MOSCOW: Russian armed forces have taken full control of Melitopol, a city in southern Ukraine, according to Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, who spoke at a press conference on Saturday.

As per reports, the Russian troops reached Melitopol without encountering resistance earlier in the day, according to the Defence Ministry. "Russian soldiers marched and, without meeting opposition, reached Melitopol on the evening of February 25, after an amphibious landing near the locality of Azovske (Ukraine)," the ministry's Zvezda television stated.

Melitopol people greeted Russian forces with red flags, and some older individuals took to the streets. Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised "a special military action" in Donbass on Thursday, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were targeted.

Meanwhile, another update,  the Ukrainian health minister has confirmed that 198 people have been killed and over 1,000 others have been injured as a result of Russia's onslaught. Three children were among those slain, according to Health Minister Viktor Lyashko. In his remarks, he did not specify if the casualties were military or civilians. He added that another 1,115 people were injured in the Russian invasion, which began on Thursday with huge air and missile attacks and troops pouring into Ukraine from the north, east, and south.

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