Russian forces have taken over the Ukrainian city of Kherson, local officials confirmed late Wednesday, the first major urban centre to fall since Moscow invaded a week ago. The announcement came as the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he would immediately open an investigation into possible war crimes committed in Ukraine. Follow our live blog for the latest developments.
Ukrainian flag still flying in Kherson, mayor says, as officials negotiate with occupying Russian troops.
The mayor of the port city of 290,000, Igor Kolykhaiev, announced discussions with “armed guests” in Kherson’s city administration.
“We had no weapons and were not aggressive. We showed that we are working to secure the city and are trying to deal with the consequences of the invasion,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
“We are having huge difficulties with the collection and burial of the dead, the delivery of food and medicine, the collection of garbage, the management of accidents, etc.,” he continued.
Kolykhaiev said that he had “made no promises” to the invading forces but asked them “not to shoot people”, while also announcing a night curfew in the city and a restriction on car traffic.
“So far so good. The flag flying above us is Ukrainian. And for it to stay that way, these requirements must be met,” he added.
Zelensky lauds Ukrainian civilians slowing advance of Russian troops “I sincerely admire the heroic civilians of Konotop, Bashtanka, Energodar, Melitopol,” the Ukrainian president said in his latest dispatch on Telegram. “Other cities and villages of Ukraine that do not allow the occupiers to pass through, blocking everything for them, blocking roads. People come out in front of enemy vehicles. This is extremely dangerous. But how courageous.”
Nuclear power plant workers, local residents block Ukrainian city entrance to Russian troops Hundreds of unarmed workers and residents are blocking the entrance to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in an attempt to prevent Russian troops from seizing it. An advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that Russian troops were stopped at the entrance to the city of Energodar, where the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is located, and that local authorities were negotiating the plant’s safety.
US says Russia is blocking independent news outlets, social media The United States accused Russia on Wednesday of launching a “full war on media freedom and the truth” by blocking independent news outlets and preventing Russians from hearing news of the invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia’s government is also throttling Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram platforms that tens of millions of Russia’s citizens rely on to access independent information and opinions,” the State Department said in a statement.
Russians also used social media to connect to each other and the outside world, it added.
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