Eighth day of the war: How is the situation in Ukraine

· Explosions were reported in Kiev in the early hours of Thursday after Russian airstrikes. Two explosions reportedly occurred in the city center, followed by two others near a subway station. Russia appears to be bringing forces closer to the capital in a visible attempt to encircle it.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed that it is launching an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine and has begun gathering evidence. The ICC process accelerated as 38 countries formally referred the reports of atrocities, the largest referral the court has ever received.

Russia has claimed to have occupied the strategically important southern southern city of Kherson in the Black Sea. US intelligence and Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations. In a Facebook post, Kherson Mayor Igor Kolykhaiev said there were "armed visitors to the city council" and Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said: "It seems to us that Ukrainians are probably fighting for that city."

· The port city of Mariupol of strategic importance to the Sea of ??Azov is said to be surrounded by Russian troops. "We can not even take the wounded from the streets, from the apartments, as the grenades do not stop," said its chairman.

Police in Moscow have arrested two women and five children holding a "No to War" poster outside the Ukrainian embassy. Police allegedly threatened to take custody of the children. In St. Petersburg, Yelena Osipova, an activist said to have survived the infamous wartime siege of Leningrad, was arrested for anti-war protests.

Russian paratroopers landed in Kharkiv after days of bombing that killed or wounded dozens of civilians. Four other people died Wednesday, local authorities said, adding that the city was still under their control.

More than 350 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and more than 2,000 injured, according to Ukraine's emergency services . Hundreds of structures including vehicles, hospitals, kindergartens and homes were destroyed.

· Ukraine claims that about 7,000 Russian troops were killed in the first six days of the occupation. Russia's Defense Ministry said 498 Russian soldiers had died in Ukraine since the start of its campaign. This was the first statement for the victims.

· Asambleja e Përgjithshme e OKB-së votoi me shumicë dërrmuese për të dënuar pushtimin e Rusisë në Ukrainë dhe bëri thirrje për tërheqjen e menjëhershme të forcave të saj. Të mërkurën, 141 nga 193 shtetet anëtare votuan pro rezolutës, 35 abstenuan dhe pesë – Rusia, Bjellorusia, Siria, Koreja e Veriut dhe Eritrea – votuan kundër.

· Një raund i dytë bisedimesh thuhet se do të fillojë sot. Një negociator rus tha se mundësia e armëpushimit do të diskutohej, por Ukraina ka thënë se kërkesat e Moskës janë të papranueshme dhe Rusia duhet të ndalojë bombardimin e qyteteve të Ukrainës.

· Më shumë se një milion njerëz janë larguar nga Ukraina që kur forcat ruse pushtuan vendin javën e kaluar, tha kreu i agjencisë së Kombeve të Bashkuara për refugjatët.

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