Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow seizes Kherson, claims Ukrainian city mayor

In a Facebook post on Wednesday late night, he said, "It wasn't a negotiation like was previously rumored. No one agreed with me about anything. However, indeed, there were armed visitors in the city's local council today. My team and I are peaceful people, we had no weapons or aggression on our side."

In Sumy in northeastern Ukraine, a building of the military faculty of Sumy State University was shelled on Thursday morning, The Kyiv Independent quoted head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration Dmytro Zhyvytsky as saying.

At least eight people, including two children were killed in a residential building as a result of a Russian attack on the city of Izyum in Kharkiv Oblast.

According to the New York Times, Russian artillery and rocket fire have cut off essentials like electricity, medicine, water and heat to many Ukrainian communities, and turned a growing number of offices, homes, businesses and vehicles to crumpled, burning hulks.

On Wednesday, the British Ministry of Defence stated that the Russian forces have captured the city of Kherson in south of Ukraine.

In its latest intelligence report the ministry said that "while Russian forces have moved into the centre of the southern city, overall gains have been “limited” due to ongoing logistical issues and strong Ukrainian resistance.

Meanwhile, BBC has launched a shortwave radio service in Ukraine that can be received clearly in Kyiv and some parts of Russia.