Russian troops create intrigue in Kherson region

Serhiy Zgurets, director of information and consulting company Defense Express, believes that Russian forces prepare to hold Kherson.

Meanwhile, Russian occupying forces create certain intrigue in Kherson region and near Kherson. On the one hand, it holds entire right bank, 140 km long and 40 km wide.  This area occupies a significant part of the right bank, where Ukrainian troops up to certain period сonducted offensive in three directions: to Beryslav, then an attempt to move from Snihurivka to Beryslav, and offensive from Mykolaiv to Kherson. But these actions have now ceased and we launch strikes with long-range means and artillery in order to force Russian enemy to leave this area. Russian troops carry out measures that are connected, on the one hand, with redeployment of troops, but in fact, they withdraw part of troops, and part of mobilized ones enters. But powerful defense is still maintained near Kherson. Russian soldiers enemy is trying to prepare these positions in order to hold Kherson. After all, these demonstration measures related to displacement have nothing to do with real plans. Russian forces will hold Kherson, and we will have to force them to leave, based on our further offensive actions or actions using artillery", the expert says.

However, Russian soldiers try to create a line of defense along the left bank.

"We see three lines of different colors - there Russian enemy is digging new redoubts in order to hold their troops. At the same time, we can launch strikes to the entire depth of enemy territory in the deep rear, almost to extreme borders of Kherson region with the help of long-range HIMARS. When we talk about our barrel artillery, which we desperately need, we cannot do it yet, because the widest section is about 40 km. Our guns can hit 40 km using only long-range projectiles. The issue of artillery is extremely important: if we knock out the enemy from the right bank, Russian troops will threaten Kherson with the part of artillery that he transferred to the left bank.

As for Nova Kakhovka and  Kakhovska HPP, Zgurets believes that at the last stage, when Ukrainian troops occupy this area, Russian enemy will defend Kherson to the last, as well as the area around Nova Kakhovka, in order to ensure withdrawal of those forces that will remain on the right bank.

"Blowing up the dam in Nova Kakhovka is disadvantageous to Russian troops because this area, where new Russian forces are currently stationed, will be flooded, so it makes no sense. They will blow up small crossing behind the dam to make it difficult for our troops to move. Ukrainian Armed Forces can pursue Russian troops retreating from the right bank. We need to create conditions so that the enemy does not have the opportunity to leave the right bank, because they have to surrender or die", Zgurets explains.