Russian Armed Forces control regional center of Kherson: MoD

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Russia's Defense Ministry announced, on Wednesday, that Russian military forces took complete control of the Ukrainian regional center of Kherson.

On his account, Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said that "the city does not face shortages of food and essential goods”, adding that negotiations between the Russian command, the administration of the city, and the region are underway to address issues of maintaining the functioning of social infrastructure facilities, ensuring law and order, as well as the safety of the population.”

"LPR forces, with fire support from the Russian armed forces, are continuing successful offensive operations as they have seized control over the settlements of Starobelsk and Svatovo. Since the start of [Russia's] special military operation, the depth of advance has been 75 kilometers", Konashenkov added.

The top Russian military figure noted that DPR forces have also expanded their zone, taking control of Kalinovka, Lebedinskoye, Pionerskoye, Nikolayevka, and Osipenko. 

"DPR forces have advanced by 58 kilometers since the start of the operation," he added.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that Ukraine’s military had been cut off from the Sea of Azov, adding that advanced forces of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine united with Russian troops on the administrative border of Donetsk and blocked access to the sea.

No damage was done to residential buildings

Konashenkov added that “Russian forces have disabled the instrument room of the main television tower in Kiev, "putting an end to information attacks on Russia," stressing that "no damage was done to residential buildings in the course of the strike."

"Sixty-seven sites have been hit; in all, 1,502 elements of Ukrainian military infrastructure have been disabled in the course of the operation. These include 51 command and communications centers belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 38 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa air defense missile systems, and 51 radar stations”, he added.

Konashenkov also indicated that some units of the Ukrainian army had voluntarily left the Tokmak and Vasylivka regions without resistance.

In a televised address on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that in response to a request from the heads of the Donbass republics, he had decided to launch a special military operation to protect people "who have been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years."

The Russian Commander made it clear that Moscow had no intention of invading Ukrainian territory and that the operation was intended to demilitarize and de-nazify the country.