Kherson

Russian forces seized the southern city of Kherson and besieged other cities, with casualties and destruction mounting, as Western sanctions tightened their ...

The United States believes that Russian forces have not yet taken over the Ukrainian city of Kherson, but could use it as part of a strategy for potentially ...

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Russian forces claim capture of city and also tighten siege of Mariupol as large amphibious taskforce threatens Odesa.

“Our air defences worked,” he said. They will have no food. I just asked [them] not to shoot people.” “They will have no peace here. Kherson is a big gain for [the Russians]. It’s taken them a while but they are here now.” Kherson’s mayor, Ihor Kolykhaiev, said in a Facebook post early on Thursday that Russian troops were in control of the city hall and that residents should obey a curfew imposed by what he called the “armed visitors”.

Russian forces have occupied the regional administration building in Ukraine's port city of Kherson, regional governor Hennadiy Laguta said in an online ...

Kherson, a city of 300,000, is strategically located on the banks of the Dnieper River near where it flows into the Black Sea. If Russian troops take the city, they could unblock a water canal and restore water supplies to the Crimean Peninsula.

The claims could not be immediately verified.

A senior US defence official says they have seen claims that the Russians have taken Kherson, but that the Ukrainian military is rejecting that claim.

“Our view is that Kherson is very much a contested city at this point,” says the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to make military assessments.

10.45am: Some photos now from Irpin, where the Ukrainian military decided earlier this week to blow up the bridge between the city and Bucha to slow down Russian troops’ advance on Kyiv.

A US defence official tells the Associated Press the kilometres-long Russian convoy spotted on satellite imagery still appears to be stalled outside Kyiv’s city centre.

The two stations are connected by an overhead corridor that crosses over about a dozen tracks.

9.01am: From the Associated Press:

A senior US defence official says the Russian convoy still appears to be stalled outside the city centre of Kyiv, and has made no real progress in the past couple days.

On Tuesday, satellite images revealed a 65 kilometre-long convoy of Russian armour is making its way to Ukraine's capital Kyiv.

The official says the convoy is still plagued with fuel and food shortages and logistical problems, as well as facing continued fierce resistance from Ukrainians.

He says there has been an increase in the number of missiles and artillery targeting the city, suggesting the Russians are trying to make a more aggressive move to try and take the city.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military assessments, says Russians have not been able to achieve air superiority and Ukrainian air defences remain operable and their aircraft continue to fly.

The official says that about 82 per cent of the Russian troops that had been arrayed around Ukraine are now inside the country — just a slight uptick over the past 24 hours, and that Russia has launched more than 450 missiles at various targets in the country.

In other areas of the country, the official says the US is seeing preliminary indications that Russian forces are going to try to move south towards Mariupol from Donetsk, in what appears to be an effort to encircle the city.

10.30am: From the Associated Press:

The Pentagon says it is postponing a nuclear missile test launch scheduled for this week to avoid any possible misunderstanding in light of Putin’s recent decision to put his nuclear forces on higher alert.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby says the decision to delay the test of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was made by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

He says the US would like to see Moscow reciprocate by “taking the temperature down” in the crisis over Ukraine.

Kirby says the US did not put its nuclear forces on higher alert in response to Putin’s move, which the spokesman describes as dangerous and unnecessary.

The US usually performs about four test launches of Minuteman III missiles per year.

9.54am: Protests against the invasion continue across different parts of the world on Thursday.

In Russia, demonstrators continue to be detained for protesting.

“With regard to majority Russian state-owned companies, the investors took into account relevant factors under their respective frameworks, including the strength and scale of the international response and the New Zealand Government’s public position on the invasion, in addition to considering the actions of their peers, expert advice and other relevant factors.”

10.50am: From the Associated Press:

A Russian official says troops have taken the Ukrainian port city of Kherson - a claim the Ukrainian military denies.

The city is under Russian soldiers' "complete control", Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov says.

He says the city’s civilian infrastructure, essential facilities and transport are operating as usual and that there are no shortages of food or essential goods.

Konashenkov says talks between the Russian commanders, city administrations and regional authorities on how to maintain order in the city are underway.

2.17pm: More reports of failed Russian incursions are being posted by the Ukrainian side, with images of seemingly abandoned Russian vehicles appearing online.

1.41pm: From the Associated Press:

Zelensky’s office says fighting is still occurring around the port city of Kherson, which Russian officials have said is in their “complete control”.

Zelensky’s office told The Associated Press that it can't comment on the situation there while the battle is still being waged.

Kherson, a city of 300,000, is strategically located on the banks of the Dnieper River near where it flows into the Black Sea. If Russian troops take the city, they could unblock a water canal and restore water supplies to the Crimean Peninsula.

The battle in the Kherson region began last Thursday, the first day of the invasion, and by the next day the Russian forces were able to take a bridge that connects the city with territory on the western bank.

1.20pm: They say life imitates art.

The former Soviet republic's move follows a similar application made by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday.

Zelensky posted photos of himself signing the EU application, a largely symbolic move that could take years to become reality and is unlikely to sit well with Putin, who has long accused the West of trying to pull Ukraine into its orbit.

11.33am: The Guardian reports International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan says in a statement he will "immediately proceed with active investigations" into the war in Ukraine.

It follows a referral from the UK and its allies.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US said it was "very open" to potentially imposing sanctions on the Russian oil and gas industry.

Kiwi economic and political commentator Bernard Hickey says the price shocks may be a concern in New Zealand. His analysis here:

12:00pm: Georgia's governing party says its decision to immediately prepare an application to join the EU comes in light of what is happening in Ukraine and a "new reality", the BBC reports.

"Our work in the collection of evidence has now commenced.”

11.25am: The NZ Super Fund, ACC, Government Superannuation Fund, and the National Provident Fund have issued a joint statement saying they have excluded Russian sovereign debt and the securities of majority Russian state-owned enterprises from their respective funds.

“The four investors will sell their directly held assets as market conditions permit,” the statement reads.

1News was scheduled to have a one one with the IPC President today, but it was cancelled at last minute due to “urgent internal meetings”.

7.44pm: Russian soldiers were seen getting supplies from a store in Kherson on Wednesday.

6.52pm: Russia's leaders are facing a war crime investigation as more aggressive assaults are killing more civilians. Join us tomorrow from 6am for the latest from Ukraine on Breakfast and here on 1News.co.nz.

10.10pm: More military aid being supplied to Ukraine, this time from Germany.

AFP reports Germany will deliver 2700 further anti-air missiles to Ukraine as per a govt source.

8.44pm: The IPC have done a u-turn, now banning all Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in the Winter Paralympics.

It follows major backlash in the last 12 hours, since it was decided the athletes could compete.

A recap of developments from Ukraine on the eighth day of Russia's invasion.

What you need to know

- The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to demand that Russia stop its invasion of Ukraine. The vote was 141 to five, with 35 abstentions.

- Russian President Vladimir Putin is being accused of committing war crimes by Ukraine's leaders and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

- A delegation from Ukraine and Russia are en route to Belarus for a second round of talks.

- A US defence official says the kilometres-long Russian convoy spotted on satellite imagery still appears to be stalled outside Kyiv’s city centre.

In a statement the IPC say they’ve decided to ‘decline athlete entries’ because multiple NPC’s, teams and athletes were threatening not to compete, jeopardising the viability of the Games and that the situation in the athlete villages in escalating and ensuring the safety of athletes has become untenable.

The strategically important port city of Kherson in Ukraine's south reportedly becomes the first major city in the country to be taken over by Russian ...

"In my old age I had to take up arms," said Andrey Goncharuk, 68. "Ukraine doesn't want to be covered in bodies of soldiers," he said. "These are not warriors of a superpower," he said. he said in a statement. Russia's Defence Ministry said 498 Russian soldiers had died and another 1,597 had been wounded since the start of the invasion, the first time Moscow put a figure on its casualties. A member of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe's special Ukraine monitoring mission was killed during the shelling on Kharkiv on Tuesday, the OSCE said in a statement on Wednesday. "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. Mr Medinsky said th sides had "reached a mutual understanding on several proposals at the negotiating table" at the first round of talks on a potential ceasefire in Belarus on Monday. He said the fighting was taking a toll on the morale of Russian soldiers, who "go into grocery stores and try to find something to eat". They will have no food. "They will have no peace here. The port city of Kherson in Ukraine's south has reportedly become the first major city in the country to be taken over by Russian forces.