UKRAINIAN forces secured full control of Kharkiv today, following street fighting with Russian troops in the second biggest city in the country, said the local governor.

“Kharkiv is fully under our control,” said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the regional administration, on Telegram.

He added that the army is expelling Russian forces during a “clean-up” operation.

Earlier today, Sinegubov said Russian forces’ light vehicles broke into the city, with fighting breaking out in the streets.

An AFP correspondent in the city heard machine gun fire and explosions.

Sinegubov said Russian troops are “absolutely demoralised”.

Russian forces are abandoning their vehicles “in the middle of the road” and groups of five are surrendering to the Ukrainian army, he added.

“As soon as they see at least one representative of the armed forces, they surrender.”

He said “dozens” of Russian soldiers have already surrendered.

“The captured Russian fighters speak of complete exhaustion and demoralisation, they have no connection with the central command, they do not understand and do not know what they do next,” said the Kharkiv governor.

“Since the beginning of the attack on Ukraine, they have not received food and water.

“Leaving their positions, Russian fighters are trying to hide among the civilian population, asking people for clothes and food.” – AFP, February 27, 2022.