The Latest Breaking News from Sergei Surovikin

Kherson was the first major city to fall to the Russians at the start of the war and remains the only regional capital under Moscow’s control, so retaking it would be a huge victory for Ukraine

The head of the office of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the evacuation as ‘propaganda’

Several loud explosions have been heard in central Kyiv, according to AFP reporters. Meanwhile, the head of the Russian-controlled region of Kherson in southern Ukraine said that pro-Kremlin officials were evacuating the city along with all other civilian inhabitants but vowed Moscow's forces would keep fighting. Read FRANCE 24’s liveblog…

The situation is "very difficult," the newly appointed commander of Russia's invading forces said.

Moscow is poised to evacuate thousands of people from an entire Ukrainian region, removing them across the border to Russia.

President Vladimir Putin ordered all of Russia to support the war effort in Ukraine on Wednesday, as the Russian-appointed administration of Kherson prepared to evacuate the only regional capital Moscow has captured during its invasion.

Sergei Surovikin says Russia’s defence of occupied southern city ‘not easy’ as Ukraine introduces local news blackout

The new commander of Russian forces in Ukraine acknowledged on Tuesday that his troops were under broad pressure and faced hard choices, as the Russian-appointed governor of occupied Kherson province announced a partial evacuation.

Ukraine says situation is ‘critical’