Residents protested as Russian tanks and armed troops seized municipal buildings in the small port city of Berdyans'k in Ukraine.

Furious locals chanted at the Unity Square on February 27 while soldiers from Russia parked their tanks and stationed themselves outside the city council building.

Acting Mayor Oleksandr Svidlo said in a video address: 'Some time ago, armed soldiers entered the executive committee building and introduced themselves as soldiers of the Russian army. They informed us that all administrative buildings were under their control and that they were taking control of the executive committee building.'

He added that the Russian troops told them to keep working, but all the staff in the building decided to leave in protest. He said: 'Today Berdyansk was on the line of fire. I don't know what tomorrow will be like, but I think tonight will be very, very hard.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine’s Donbas region last week. He said in a public address on February 24: ‘We decided to launch a special military action aimed at demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had pleaded for peace but added that Ukraine will defend itself from any invasion attempts.

He said: ‘If they attack, if they try to take our county – our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children – we will be defending ourselves.’

Russian and Ukrainian officials began ceasefire talks on March 1 in the Republic of Belarus, a staunch Russian ally.