The city of Kherson, in southern Ukraine, which was taken by the Russian army in early March, is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denounced on Tuesday.

“The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating. The city is critically short of food and medical supplies due to the siege. Newborns, who lack infant nutrition and hygiene products, and seriously ill patients constitute the population at special risk,” the entity said in a statement.

In addition, he stated that “the Russian invaders are retaliating against the residents of the city” and recalled that last Monday they opened fire on peaceful protesters in Liberty Square, an event that left an elderly man injured.

The ministry added that “about 100 international students, mainly from African countries, are currently in Kherson.”

“Despite the efforts of the Government of Ukraine and international humanitarian organizations, the Russian Federation continues to refuse to create a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians and the delivery of food. The city is getting closer to a humanitarian catastrophe with each passing day.” reviewed the statement.

The city, with about 300,000 inhabitants, is located along the Dnieper River and on the shores of the Black Sea. Kherson is a strategic point in the Russian offensive, which began on February 24, due to its proximity to Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.