Ukraine: Russian Warships Head Towards Odesa Amid Fears Of Assault On Port Town, Reports Claim

There have been reports of Russian warships heading towards Odesa, as today marks the eighth day of war in Ukraine.

Reportedly, officials are anticipating Russian ships will head towards Odesa, Ukraine's third-largest city as Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'special military operation' continues.

The fears come as Russian naval ships are said to have congregated in the Black Sea, just outside of Ukraine's waters.

Gennady Trukhanov, mayor of Odesa, received a call yesterday, March 2, to say a rocket was fired at a building near the area, as per The New York Times.

While the first days of invasion focused predominantly on the move of troops towards the capital Kyiv and the second-largest city Kharkiv, Russian forces are also said to be launching attacks in south Ukraine, along the coast.

Yesterday, Russian forces were said to have captured the city of Kherson, but there have been conflicting reports.

Kherson sits along the Dnieper River and if captured would mark the first major city taken by Russian forces amid the war.

Mayor of the city Igor Kolykhaev said of the occupation: 'They’ve fully come into the city'.

Residents in Odesa are also bracing for an attack as forces seem to inch closer to the city, as per Fox News.

One local, named Kate, shared pictures of empty shelves in the supermarket and said that while she went out in the hopes of replenishing her supplies, 'the store shelves are empty. The store warehouses are just as empty. New supplies are now impossible'.

Kate went on to explain that she lost contact with her friends in Kharkiv and Kyiv earlier in the week, as shelling in the two cities continued.

Worry for an impending attack on Odesa comes as the United Nations refugee agency reports more than one million refugees have fled the country since the war began.

UN high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, confirmed the rising number of people fleeing on Twitter. 'In just seven days we have witnessed the exodus of one million refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries'.

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information