KYIV, March 3: The invading Russians seized Kherson, the southern port city
in the war-torn Ukraine, on Thursday. Kherson became the first city to fall
to the Russian troops while intense fighting is going on in the Capital city
of Kyiv and Kharkiv, the second largest city, and elsewhere, in Ukraine.
The Russians have taken full control of Kherson, retaining the administrative
machinery. Since Wednesday there has not been any fighting. It is life normal
with all the employees remaining in their place and the people moving around
as in peacetime with no sound of gunfire or explosions.
They have imposed certain rules although. The residents are not allowed to
move in groups. They should submit to checking when asked. Water and electricity
supplies and internet connections have been restored. People move around buying
essentials. However, medicines are in short supply. Kherson is strategically
located close Crimean peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014. Kherson alongwith
Odesa port to the south and Mariupol to the east where fierce fighting is going
on, can block Ukraine's access to ports and seas - Black Sea and the Sea of
Azov. The stretch from Odesa to pro-Russian separatist-held Luhansk and Donetsk
in the east will form a long contiguous territory from the south to the eastern
border, along the coast. A land route to Crimea becomes a reality for Russia
when Mariupol also falls, apart from blocking a maritime advantage to Ukraine.
According to the mayor of Kherson, the Ukrainian forces withdrew toward Mykolaiv,
a city to the northwest, said, after days of intense fighting. Norway and Germany
have also provided missiles to Ukraine. Slovakia approved a further aid package
of military material worth 32.2 million euros for Ukraine, the Defence Ministry
said on Thursday.
According to a late report, the commanding general of the Russian 7th Airborne
Division, Maj. Gen. Andrei Sukhovetsky was killed in fighting in Ukraine earlier
this week.
Putin said during a call with French President Emmanuel Macron that "Russia
intends to continue the uncompromising fight against militants of nationalist
armed groups."'
More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine to the neighbouring countries
of Poland, Hungary and Romania following the unprovoked Russian invasion. Through
Operation Ganga mission, 3,000 Indians were evacuated in 15 flights in the last
24 hours.
Meanwhile, in resumed talks, Ukraine and Russia agreed to create humanitarian
corridors to evacuate civilians, on Thursday. This was the second round of talks.
Negotiators from both sides said a third round of talks on the war will be held
soon.
It was reported that The Pentagon has established a channel of direct communication
with the Russian Ministry of Defence to avoid unintended conflict spilling out
of the war in Ukraine.
