Ukraine: Russian troops take over the critical mayor of Kherson

The mayor has said that Russian troops have taken control of the central port city in southern Ukraine. After heavy fighting since the invasion a week ago, Kherson is the first major city to be taken over by Russia.

Its mayor, Igor Kolikhayev, said Russian troops broke into the City Council building and imposed a curfew on residents. Several cities were under intense bombardment, with Wednesday being one of the most devastating days of fighting. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has launched an investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.

Russia has admitted for the 1st time that it has suffered heavy military casualties in its assault on Ukraine, with 498 soldiers killed and 1,597 wounded. Ukraine says Russian casualties are in the thousands.

According to Ukraine, more than 2,000 civilians have died since last Thursday's invasion. According to the United Nations, the conflict has also forced more than a million people to flee Ukraine. In a Facebook post, Kolikhayev said Russian troops controlled Kherson, a port on Ukraine's southern Black Sea coast with a population of more than 280,000.

Kolikhayev urged citizens to comply with the requirements set by the Russian armed forces to "raise the flag of Ukraine." "The (Russian) invaders are in all parts of the city, and they are very dangerous," said Gennady Lahuta, head of the regional administration.

The capture of Kherson - which lies on the shores of the Dnieper where it empties into the Black Sea - is crucial because it could allow Russia to set up a military base there as it seeks to advance deeper.

Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, has targeted heavy airstrikes. The mayor told the news that shelling and cruise missile attacks had hit residential areas and caused heavy civilian casualties.