Ukraine's forces build sandbag barricades and 'hedgehog' defences in Odessa

UKRAINE'S forces build sandbag barricades and 'hedgehog' defences around the famous Odessa opera house in the south.

Odessa is a port city, home to one million people and its port is crucial to Ukraine's economy.

Locals have been filling bags with sand on the beach to build barriers in the historic city and taking part in weapons training, amid mounting dread of an attack as Russian forces move through Ukraine.

Pentagon officials said on Monday (March 7) that the city of Kherson, some 145 km (90 miles) east of Odessa, has been taken by Russian troops and Ukraine Maritime Administration officials said heavy fighting has reached the town of Mykolaiv, between Odessa and Kherson.