Ukraine after 8th night of war: Kherson falls, Kyiv attack column stalled, Belarus army waiting

In Ukraine, the morning of Thursday, March 3, came with news of southern port city of Kherson falling to Russian occupation forces, becoming the first major city to be lost to invaders. Heavy shelling and missile attacks have continued against Kyiv and other cities and town, while Belarusian armed forces have not yet fully engaged in the war, Ukrinform and BBC report.
After days of street fighting, the mayor of Kherson, Igor Kolykhaev, has stated that Russian troops had forced their way into the city council building and imposed a curfew on residents. Occupation forces have taken control of the key port city in southern Ukraine as Russian forces advanced from Russian-annexed Crimea, BBC reports.
During the night Russian forces continued missile and artillery attacks on the capital Kyiv, south-eastern city of Mariupol, north-eastern cities of Sumy, Okhtyrka and Izum killing people and destroying buildings and infrastructure.
The US Department of Defence has stated that it saw no indication that the Belarusian military was getting involved or preparing to get involved in the hostilities in Ukraine. As to Russian forces, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said that Russians have lost a sense of momentum here, but that doesn’t mean that they still don’t have the power at their disposal. However, the Ukrainians also have retained a lot of their combat power and are fighting greatly, the Pentagon spokesperson evaluated.
Ukraine has called for assistance from international organizations, including the OSCE, in creating humanitarian corridors. Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, wrote this on Twitter. «Villages and towns, where columns of Russian troops are stationed, immediately become places of looting, robbery, murder. We need humanitarian corridors – food, medicines, safe passage for ambulances, evacuation of children. We expect active assistance from international organizations, including the OSCE. Enough words!» Podoliak was quoted as saying by Ukrinform.