Russian forces reported modest gains over the past day in their attack on Ukraine. This morning, on the main advance in the south, Russian forces have entered the long contested city of Mariupol, which offers them a link between Crimea and the Donbas region. Russians also completed the take-over of the city of Kherson, west of Crimea, in their push toward Odessa.

Russian airborne troops also landed in Kharkov, and reportedly fought over a local hospital. This city is a major goal in this early stage of the Russian campaign, but the Ukrainians are offering stiff resistance. Little change has been reported in the fight for the capital Kiev.