Ukrainians are waking up to the familiar sounds of air raid sirens across several cities.
Here are the updates on the Russia invasion of Ukraine:
At least twelve (21) people have been killed and one hundred and twelve (112) wounded in the shelling of Ukraine’s second most populous city Kharkiv, according to the city’s mayor.
Reports indicate a new rocket attack in the city, that has struck the building of the regional police department in the city, and part of Karazin University
According to Ukraine’s military, Russian paratroopers have also landed in Kharkiv in an effort to take the besieged eastern Ukrainian city.
Russian military forces seem to be making more concrete gains in Ukraine’s south, and Russia’s defence ministry claims it has taken the southern city of Kherson
The media has not been spared as television broadcasts and access to news have been disrupted after two Russian missiles struck a TV tower. It killed five people leaving five others injured.
Residents of the north-eastern city of Sumy have been ordered into shelters over the threat of artillery fire, according to the regional governor.
Elsewhere in the world, US president Joe Biden has delivered a State of the Union address, in which he announced the closure of US airspace to Russian planes.
He also noted the determined resistance of Ukrainians, saying “Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Ukrainian people.”
Russia’s control of Ukraine
Military analysts at the US-based Institute for Study of War have pushed out their latest assessment of Russia’s invasion.
Major findings on how much Russia has taken control of Ukraine.
The Ukraine capital, Kyiv remains Moscow’s main war operation. Russia is setting up conditions to encircle the capital with advances from the west and east of the city. Analysts believe the 64km-long convoy still north of the city is there to support an attack from the west.
In Kharkiv, shelling and aerial bombardments continue. Analysts believe Russia is launching an aerial attack first before it goes in with a renewed ground attack on either Wednesday or Thursday.
In the south, Russian forces are aiming to shore up their seizure of Kherson, which could clear the way for renewed drives onto Odesa and Mykolaiv – which would knock out Ukraine’s port access.
They are also lining up troops to encircle Mariupolto the east – which would create a “land bridge” for Russian forces to travel freely between the Russian mainland and Crimea.
