Numerous Russian communities in the south have been taken back by Ukraine as Kyiv’s army prepare to launch a significant counterattack against Kherson city.
The leader of the Kherson region, Dmytro Butriy, reported that 46 occupied settlements, predominantly in the north, had been freed by Kyiv forces on the previous day.
However, several are at least near to the city, in the south along the Black Sea shore. Russia retaliated by midnight artillery attacks on Mykolaiv, a city down the coast from Kherson, which resulted in the destruction of a hospital.
Ukraine has previously bragged that the entire Kherson area and city will be under its control by September, dealing Putin a crushing blow.
Butriy emphasised the need for individuals still present in the area to “evacuate to safer locations,” describing the humanitarian situation there as “serious.”
Following the explosion of critical targets behind the Russian frontline by Ukrainian forces using recently given Western HIMARS rocket artillery, a counterattack was launched.
Kyiv’s troops have been attacking ammunition depots and command posts over the past few weeks, hindering Russia’s capacity to unleash devastating artillery barrages that have helped them advance in the east.
They have also killed senior officers, which has limited Russia’s ability to fight.
Another significant development occurred last week when missile attacks were used to destroy the Antonovsky Bridge, the primary road connecting Kherson to the remainder of Russia’s occupied area.
Rocket damage has also been done to a neighbouring railway bridge and a second road that goes over the top of the Nova Khakovka dam.
In the event that Ukraine attacks, it implies that Russia has no simple methods of bolstering and resupplying its forces in Kherson, and it also has no simple means of evacuating troops.
In an effort to move in and retake the city within the next several weeks, Kyiv’s men are currently tightening the noose around it.
The outcome of the conflict could be crucial: If Ukraine triumphs, it will demonstrate that it is theoretically possible to push Russia off of all of its occupied areas.
After months on the defensive, victory would certainly result in more financial and military support from the West and provide Ukraine a crucial morale boost.
If the West loses, it will be much more difficult for them to convince their own citizens to continue supporting Ukraine, especially as winter comes and Russia’s plan to cut off gas supplies takes effect.
Losing the support of the West would constrain Ukraine and might push Kiev to accept a bad peace agreement that would put an end to the conflict and give Putin the opportunity to reignite it whenever he sees fit.
The only regional capital that Putin’s soldiers have conquered after five months of warfare is Kherson, which was captured and represents a significant propaganda victory for the Kremlin.
On March 3, as Russian troops flooded out of Crimea and into southern Ukraine, it was taken early in the conflict.
Because Ukraine is said to have pulled forces from here to strengthen the capital before the war started out of concern that its loss would mean an early defeat, their advance was more successful than strikes elsewhere.
Currently, Ukraine has returned to retake the area after Russia withdrew from Kyiv and its assault on the Donbas was weakened.
Beyond its symbolic significance for both sides, the city has strategic value for both Russia and Ukraine.
It is Russia’s lone foothold on the western side following Kyiv’s retreat and spans the Dnipro River, the main waterway that divides the country in two.
Kherson is also home to military bases and an airport, and it is located just inland from the Black Sea with easy access to prosperous trading routes.
Regaining it would provide additional protection for Odesa, the largest port city in Ukraine, but it would also act as a base for additional Ukrainian attacks in the east.
From Kherson, missiles could reach Crimea, which Russia invaded and annexed the last time it did so in 2014.
Routes to Melitopol, Berdyansk, and Mariupol, three other sizable Russian-held cities, would become more accessible if the city were taken.