On the seventh day of fighting in Ukraine Wednesday, Russia claims control of the southern port city of Kherson, street battles rage in Ukraine’s second-biggest city Kharkiv, and Kyiv braces for a feared Russian assault.
Here is a summary of the situation on the ground, based on statements from the sides, Western defence and intelligence sources and international organisations.
The military situation
– Russia says it has taken “full control” of Kherson, a port city on the Black Sea.
– Kherson’s mayor says “We are still Ukraine. Still firm”.
– Ukraine says Russian paratroopers also landed in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city.
– There is fighting in the streets of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s army says.
– Emergency services report four dead, nine wounded in Kharkiv shelling.
– AFP witnesses see rocket damage to security, police and university buildings in Kharkiv.
– Russia steps up bombing of Ukraine’s cities, including west and south of Kyiv.
– With Western observers noticing a Russian military column outside Kyiv, the capital remains braced for a possible assault.
– Mariupol on the Azov Sea is reportedly surrounded by Russian forces
– Spain is the latest country to announce supply of “military hardware” to Ukraine.
The military toll
– Ukraine claims 5,840 Russian soldiers have lost their lives in the conflict so far, a claim which cannot be verified.
– Russia says 498 of its soldiers have died in Ukraine. This toll, the first given by Moscow since the invasion began, cannot be verified.
– According to the Russian defence ministry, its forces have destroyed over 1,500 Ukrainian military elements including 58 planes, 46 drones and 472 tanks.
– Ukraine denies suffering military losses on this scale.
The humanitarian toll
– Tuesday’s Russian attack on a Kyiv TV tower killed five, Ukraine says.
– More than 350 civilians have died in the conflict so far, including 14 children, Ukraine says.
– UN says nearly 875,000 people have fled conflict including nearly 200,000 in 24 hours.
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