The southern Ukraine city of Kherson, which has a population of over 280,000 residents, has been captured by Russian troops.
According to the BBC, Igor Kolykhaev, the mayor of Kherson, said the Russians have taken over the city hall and set a curfew for residents.
Kolykhaev also reportedly asked Russian troops to avoid shooting at civilians.
The mayor urged Kherson residents on Facebook to follow Russian mandates, including going outside “in groups of two at most”.
He added that “only cars carrying food, medicine and other supplies” can “enter the city, driving at a minimum speed”.
In an interview with the New York Times, Kolykhaev reported that Ukrainian forces had already left the city following the Russian siege.
Ukraine has announced that more than 2,000 civilians have died since the invasion began last week. According to the UN, more than a million Ukrainians have fled the country.
The BBC reported that the capture of Kherson is “significant because it could allow Russia to create a base for the military there as it seeks to push further inland”.
The International Criminal Court in The Hague has launched an investigation into potential war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
