Russia has occupied Kherson, a key strategic point along the Black Sea, making it the first major Ukrainian city to be attacked by Russian forces.
As the fighting progressed into its seventh day, Russian army hordes were seen advancing on the city of about 300,000 men. As of Wednesday, reports emerged that the city center had fallen to the Russians, with the Russian Defense Ministry saying its forces had taken "complete control" of Kherson.
While the Ukrainian government disputes Russia's claim that the city has been occupied, Kherson Mayor Ihor Kolykhayev said in a translated Facebook post that: "There were armed visitors to the city council today."
"We have shown that we are working to secure the city and try to eliminate the consequences of the invasion," Kolykhayev said. "We do not have Ukrainian armed forces in the city."
Additionally, CNN's Nick Patton Walsh, reporting from Ukraine, said on Wednesday: "It appears that the Russian military has significant control around Kherson, and this Facebook post also suggests that they may have come into an accommodation , even if it looks like occupation by Russian troops under martial law."
A curfew was reportedly imposed by the Russian occupying forces after the fall of Kherson, as well as a ban on people walking together in groups.
The capture of Kherson represents a major strategic victory for the Russian military as it continues its efforts to capture Ukraine. Home to an important shipbuilding industry and a major economic center for the country, Kherson lies along Ukraine's longest waterway, the Dnieper River, which provides access to significant parts of inland Ukraine.
Kherson also provides access to the Russian-annexed region of Crimea as well as the important port city of Odessa.
Most important to the Russians, however, would be Kherson's position on the Black Sea, which could allow the army to exploit its strategic location. The body of water is a major economic lifeline for Eastern Europe providing access to neighboring countries of Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova – the latter of which Russia is already preparing for invasion.
"Khersan is a key to southern Ukraine," lawyer Sergei Dmitryuk told The Globe and Mail.
The fall of Kherson came as Russian forces continued their offensive on Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, on another major Ukrainian metropolis—Kharkiv. Explosions were seen in major parts of the city on Wednesday, along with reports of Russian paratroopers entering Kharkiv.
A sustained attack could make Kharkiv the second major Ukrainian city to fall into Russian hands. Amid the violence, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a video message: "We never thought this could happen. Total destruction, destruction, genocide against the Ukrainian people—it's unforgivable."
The Russians continued to advance through strategic points, despite facing heavy resistance from Ukrainian fighters. In particular, concerns were expressed after the military moved to occupy potentially environmentally harmful locations, including Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
This includes the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The plant—the largest in Europe and the top 10 largest in the world—is currently surrounded by Russian forces.
Another infamous location is the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a defunct facility that was the site of a deadly nuclear disaster in 1986, which is also currently under Russian control.
"We've seen public statements from local officials, but [it's] not something we can talk about," a spokeswoman for the US State Department told Newsweek.