Early this Thursday morning, the mayor of the city of Kherson, Igor Kolikhaiev, and the head of the regional administration, Gennady Lakhuta, confirmed what had already been feared the night before, but the government had not yet taken a stand: the port, located in the southern part of Ukraine, was the first major city to fall into the hands of Russian Federation troops.
“Occupiers [russos] They are in all parts of the city and are very dangerous, ”Lakhuda was quoted as saying by AFP.
In a message posted on Facebook, Kolikayev said Russian troops had taken to the streets of Gerson and since then a group of about ten soldiers had entered the government building to announce that the city’s military administration would be activated.
The Russian invaders also informed him of the new rules in the city: the imposition of an immediate curfew from 8 pm to 6 am; Restrictions on street movement for groups of no more than two persons; Vehicles carrying food, medicine or other essential items are prohibited in the city.
“Today there were armed observers on the city’s executive committee,” the mayor wrote, quoting Reuters. “I did not promise them anything. I’m interested in the normal life of our city. I just asked people not to shoot.
The capture of Kherson, an important strategic point connecting the Black Sea and the Dnieper River with about 300,000 people, was the first significant achievement launched by the Russian military, a week ago, by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Described by “special military action” in Ukraine.
Most military analysts and experts at the moment, Moscow already hopes to control several strategic Ukrainian citiesKherson’s victory could still give new life to the Russian offensive, in particular Attacks on the capital Kiev (Major), or to the major cities of Kharkiv (northeast) and Mariupol (southeast).
The first two are still on fire, with bombs and missiles being reported every hour, while Mariupol, another important port city with a population of 450,000, currently surrounded by Russian troops and artillery, is estimated to pose a threat of a humanitarian catastrophe. Hundreds of deaths are to be counted.
“There are obstacles in the distribution of food, they have set up a siege like the old Leningrad. [Os russos] They have been deliberately destroying the city’s basic civil infrastructure for seven days. We have no electricity, water or heating facilities, ”the city council quoted Reuters as saying in a statement on Thursday.
“We could not even evacuate the wounded from the streets or apartments, (…) the bombings did not stop,” lamented Mariupol Mayor Vadim Poichenko, quoted the BBC as quoting the BBC.
The ceasefire is magical
Humanitarian drama across the territory of Ukraine threatens to become uncontrollable if people are not helped, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi warned this Thursday. More than a million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion.
“It’s time for guns to be quiet, so we can provide humanitarian assistance to save lives,” he said in a message shared on Twitter.
In seven days we saw the migration of one million refugees from Ukraine to neighboring countries.
For millions more, within Ukraine, it is time for guns to be quiet so that life-saving humanitarian aid can be provided.
– Filippo Grandi (iliFilippoGrandi) March 2, 2022
This aid may also be approved this Thursday New round of talks between Ukrainian and Russian representatives Especially in the border area between Ukraine and Belarus Opening of humanitarian routes In various besieged cities.
The purpose of the ceasefire in the whole territory, or in some parts of it, seems to be impractical at present, even if the meeting between the two delegations takes place. At the time of the double Russian attacks.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that the Kremlin was demanding Ukraine’s “militarization” and withdrawal from joining NATO. In addition, he warned that there was a list of specific weapons that could not enter the Ukrainian border.
With recent promises of weapons, ammunition and other military equipment from the United States, the European Union and other Western nations – Ukrainian opposition must be achieved at any time – It is difficult to predict the reduction of Russian hostilities in the short or medium term.
The Russian Federation says more injustice has been done Obstacles and various omissions Imposed on him by the Western nations, In an integrated strategy to isolate internationally. In addition to showing no signs of wanting to slow down the pace of hostility so far Ordered its nuclear forces to raise the alert level to a maximum.
On Wednesday, 141 of the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the Russian military occupation of Ukraine and calling for the immediate withdrawal of its forces.
Only five countries – Russia, Syria, North Korea, Belarus and Eritrea – voted against the resolution, and in 35 polls, some of Moscow’s traditional allies stood alone. ChinaCuba, Venezuela or Nicaragua.
Thirty-eight countries, including Portugal, have submitted information to the International Criminal Court (ICC) about possible war crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, which is considered the largest joint operation in the court’s history.
Resistance
In one of his regular video messages, Volodymyr Zhelensky This Thursday, he again accused the Russian military of bombing civilian targets and residential areas of cities.
The President of Ukraine listed the obstacles that the Ukrainians had to overcome between the First World War and the annexation of Crimea, confirming that the opposition would remain steadfast in the security of the country.
“We do not have large territory (…), we do not have nuclear weapons, we do not supply oil or gas to international markets,” Zhelensky said. “But we have our people, we have our land: we are fighting for it.”
The Ukrainian president has said that about 9,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the war began. However, the Kremlin promises that the death toll from the war will be 498, and will equate the sacrifice of these “heroes” with the loss of Soviet troops in World War II against Nazi Germany.