Ukraine and Russia expected to hold talks over invasion while China points finger at US following ‘fake’ reports it was tipped off in advance

Russian troops seize first major city as fighting continues in other areas while Ukraine says delegation is heading to Belarus for a second round of talks

Beijing rejects reports it was told of planned military action, adding that it was a ‘despicable’ attempt to shift the blame for the crisis

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Andrey Goncharuk, 68, a member of territorial defense wipes his face in the backyard of a house that was damaged by a Russian airstrike, according to locals, in Gorenka. Photo: AP

Published: 7:30pm, 3 Mar 2022Updated: 12:52pm, 9 Mar 2022

China hit back at the United States after reports it had been tipped off about the Russian attack on Ukraine on Thursday ahead of an expected second round of talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Belarus.

On day eight of the invasion, Russian forces resumed offensive operations on all fronts. In the south they secured the city of Kherson, the first major city captured in the advance.

However, their drive towards the capital Kyiv made few advances, with troops apparently attempting to envelop and ultimately encircle the city.

There was also fighting around two other major hotspots, Kharkiv in the northeast and Mariupol in the southeast, with reports of more civilian casualties and damage to non-military infrastructure.

The UN human rights office said at least 227 civilians have been killed and 525 wounded since the start of the war. Ukraine claimed the number killed was around 2,000.

The Russian side also announced casualties for the first time since the start of the invasion, saying nearly 500 troops have been killed and around 1,600 wounded.