Kherson, a strategic location in left Ukraine has been captured by Russia. Russia had invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Home to about 300,000 people, Kherson is a significant urban Centre to fall into the lap of Moscow since its invasion. It has enabled Russia to have direct access to the mainland from Crimea. Nearby Kherson is the access to fresh water that supplies Crimea that Ukraine had cut off after the annexation by Russia in 2014. Some analysts believe that one of Russia’s plans in southeastern Ukraine is to establish a corridor of land that will be linking the two regions.
A major port in Ukraine’ third largest city, Odesa, lies about 200km west of Kherson. If Russia is successful in overtaking Odesa, this step will cut the country’s access to the Black Sea. It is the biggest seaport that Ukraine has. Hence, seventy per cent of Ukraine’s export going from there. Traffic into the city has been restricted and the civilians are now living under Russian curfew laws. According to reports, Russian forces have bombarded and shelled residential buildings and fired at civilian vehicles and residents, even after releasing a press statement where they claimed not to do this. Local reporters claim that over 40 people have died.
Coming to the eastern part of Ukraine, Mariupol has claimed that it is standing tall against the persistent and heavy shelling. The civilian infrastructure is heavily under the Russian’s radar. Due to the consistency of the attacks, power and water supply has been cut off. There is a stringent need for a ceasefire due to the collateral civilian damage across the country, as expressed by the local authorities. The smaller towns around the area- Melitopol and Berdyansk has already been taken over by Moscow.
Besides these cities, a major threat is revolving around the largest nuclear plant of Europe. Residents of the town of Enerhodar are trying to block the passage to the nuclear station. As of Thursday, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol continue to receive attacks from the Russian forces. As per the United Nations, 1 million people have already fled the country. As the war proceeds, the destruction continues.
Edited by- Subbuthai Padma
Published by- Radhika. N
