Russia-Ukraine war updates: Which cities have fallen prey to Russian forces so far?

Here’s a list of all the cities that have been captured by Russian forces so far and the ones that remain. 

In their week-long invasion, Russian forces claim to have seized the first major Ukrainian city, I.e., the strategic southern port of Kherson. Russia has stepped up the bombardment across the country, capital Kyiv and surrounding Kharkiv, the second-largest city. 

Kharkiv: On the sixth day of aggression, the invading forces fired rockets into the centre of the country’s second-largest city, Kharkiv. It has a population of around 1.4 million, with the majority speaking Russian, and is situated near the Russian border. The city has been a target for the Russian forces ever since President Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine. 

Kherson: On Wednesday, Igor Kolykhaev, the mayor of Kherson, said that the Russian soldiers were in the city, and they came to the city administration building. The mayor asked them not to shoot the civilians and to allow them to collect the bodies from the streets. 

The city of Kherson is strategically located on the banks of the Dnieper River, near where it flows into the Black Sea. On the first day of the onslaught, I.e., Thursday, the battle in the Kherson region began, and by the next day, the Russian military forces were able to take over a bridge that connects the city with the western bank. 

If the Russian troops could take over Kherson, they could unblock the water canal and restore water supplies to the Crimean Peninsula. 

Chernihiv and Mariupol: According to the British military intelligence, both the cities remain under Ukrainian control, but the Russian forces have surrounded and bombarded the city of Mariupol. 

Kyiv: On Tuesday, a massive Russian armoured column bore down on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. The Russian troops have encircled the capital city and are continuously bombarding the city. The capital has been completely cut off from food, water and basic supplies. 

Melitopol: On Friday, the Russian troops captured Melitopol. 

Russia said in a statement that it would press forward with its military advances in Ukraine. The United Nations denounced the invasion in a historic vote.

Edited by: Kiran Maharana

Published by: Vishakha Verma