MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. Russian Armed Forces units have taken full control of Kherson’s regional center, the city’s civilian infrastructure and transportation services are operating as usual, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov told reporters.

"Russian Armed Forces units have taken full control of the regional center of Kherson. Civilian infrastructure, critical public services and facilities, along with urban transportation are operating as usual. There are no shortages of food or essential goods in the city," Konashenkov assured.

According to him, "negotiations continue between the Russian command, and the city and regional administrations, on resolving issues covering the maintenance and function of social infrastructure facilities, ensuring law and order and the security of the population."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported later that Russian troops were not delivering strikes against Ukrainian cities. It emphasized that Ukrainian military infrastructure was being destroyed by precision weapons.