Ukrainian army expands control over positions in Kherson region's east bank - ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

A Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian troops are conducting periodic localized attacks with limited forces near Kopani, Robotyne, Verbove and Novoprokopivka.

The Russian 'military commander' claimed that positional fighting was ongoing near Verbove and that Ukrainian forces were trying to disrupt Russian defense systems in the area.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian assaults north of Nesteryanka (10km southwest of Orikhiv) and near Pyatykhatky (23km southwest of Orikhiv).

A Kremlin-affiliated milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces were still holding positions in one part of Krynky, despite Russia's attempts to push Ukrainian forces off the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.

A Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces had expanded control of their positions north of Pidstepne.

Operation on the left bank of the Kherson region

On September 14 and 15, Ukrainian troops crossed the Dnipro River, presumably to consolidate their positions and prepare for an offensive on the left bank of the Kherson region. The Russian forces claim that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been preparing to cross the Dnipro since July.

On September 20, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on new footholds of the Defense Forces on the left bank of the Dnipro.

The Institute for the Study of War said that units of two Ukrainian marine brigades probably crossed the Dnipro River on October 17-18 and landed on the left bank of the river in Kherson region.

On October 20, ISW stated that the Ukrainian offensive on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson region appears to be larger than previous raids. Geolocation footage shows that the Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain a presence along the Dnipro bank and near the Antonivskyi Bridge. On the same day, Zelenskyy came to Kherson region to hold a meeting and present awards.

On October 21, ISW reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to conduct larger-than-usual ground operations on the left bank of the Kherson region. In particular, Ukrainian soldiers are fighting in the village of Krynky. 

Also, according to the spokesperson of the Southern Defense Forces, Natalia Humeniuk, in order to "make life easier" on the right bank of the Dnipro RIver, it is necessary to clear a part of the left bank, which remains under fire from the Russian troops.