Ukraine invasion: Russian march on Kyiv gathers pace as Black Sea port Kherson falls
- Russian forces are in the city, Kherson officials confirm, as blockaded port city of Mariupol is left without power or water
- Control of key cities might aid logistical support and forward assault towards the north and capital city Kyiv, say military analysts
This came as Mariupol in the southeast, another key port city, was left blockaded and without water, heating or power on day eight of the Russian military operation, Reuters said, with civil authorities reporting mass casualties.
Also, four Russian landing ships and three rocket boats were advancing towards Odesa, another strategic Black Sea port city about 200km southwest of Kherson, Ukraine’s defence ministry said on Thursday.
Military analysts believe Russia’s control of the key cities might aid logistical support and forward assault towards the north and the capital, Kyiv.
Attempts to capture cities along key motorways showed Russian forces were capturing the periphery of major cities before entering urban centres, Ni Lexiong, a Shanghai-based military commentator, said.
In the south, captured port cities would ensure supplies from areas controlled by Russian forces and Russian-backed separatists could be moved more quickly to the front lines via the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
“They would want to save on fuel; moving supplies on land has a higher cost,” Ni said, adding that travelling on roads would be slow and expose vehicles to being attacked.