Russia claims its forces have captured Kherson

Airborne Russian forces land in Ukraine’s second-largest city, sparking fierce street battles; Kyiv says more than 350 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed since the invasion began.

The Russian army claimed on Wednesday it had taken control of southern Ukrainian city of Kherson as Moscow’s invasion of the pro-Western country entered its seventh day.

“The Russian divisions of the armed forces have taken the regional centre of Kherson under full control,” defense ministry spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, said in televised remarks.

He claimed that public services and transportation were operating as usual.

“The city is not experiencing shortages of food and essential goods,” he added.

He said talks were underway between the Russian army and local authorities on maintaining order, protecting the population and keeping public services functioning.

Kherson’s mayor, Igor Kolykhaiev, said in a post on Facebook: “We are still Ukraine. Still firm.”

Apparently, contradicting the Russian army’s claims, he said he needed to find a way to “collect the (bodies of the) dead” and “restore electricity, gas, water and heating where they are damaged.”

“But I warn you right away: to complete these tasks today means to perform a miracle,” he added.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry denied that Russian forces have managed to capture the city, according to a spokesperson quoted by CNN.

“According to the info from our brigade, the battles are going on now,” a spokesperson for the ministry said. “The city is not captured totally, some parts are under our control.”

Kherson’s Chief Rabbi, Yosef Yitzhak Wolf, said he was worried for the safety of his congregation, adding that he was looking into options to evacuate the community from the southern Ukrainian city.

“We’re in a new reality and we are worried for the well-being of Jews,” he told the Ynet news site.

All in all, the Russian military damaged more than 1,500 military facilities in Ukraine, Konashenkov, the spokesman, said on Wednesday, adding that 58 planes, 46 drones and 472 tanks and other armoured vehicles had been destroyed.

Russian forces continued to target cities throughout Ukraine, with heavy fighting reported in Kharkiv, as Russian paratroopers landed in Ukraine’s second-biggest city.

The airborne operation came as US President, Joe Biden, branded Vladimir Putin a “dictator,” warning the sanction campaign to cripple Russia’s economy. –Aljazeera/CNN