Ukrainian troops have secured foothold in the south, senior official says

Kherson region, initially captured by Russian forces early in their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, saw the retreat of Russian troops from the regional capital, also named Kherson, and the west bank of the Dnipro River towards the end of the previous year. Since then, Russian forces have launched attacks on Kherson and other towns from their new positions on the river's east bank. While the Ukrainian counteroffensive, now four months old, has seen gradual advancements, Ukrainian officials have been reserved in their reports about their forces' movements on the east bank. A Ukrainian military spokesperson recently noted moderate successes in compelling Russian forces to change their positions. Independent reports have also observed Ukrainian progress in the area.

Russia's military claimed last week to have repelled a Ukrainian effort to establish a stronghold on the Dnipro's eastern bank and nearby islands, allegedly resulting in the deaths of approximately 500 Ukrainian soldiers. However, Reuters has not been able to independently confirm these battlefield reports. In an unusual development, two Russian state news agencies briefly reported that Russian troops were relocating to "more favorable positions" east of the Dnipro River in Ukraine, only to retract these statements shortly afterward. Russia has previously used similar language to describe strategic retreats.

In his talk at the Hudson Institute, Yermak stressed that Russia showed no signs of halting the conflict, aiming instead to withstand and outlast the solidarity of democratic nations. He underscored Ukraine's immediate need for weapons, pointing out Russia's continued air superiority and ability to produce missiles, partly due to evading sanctions. He also mentioned the threat posed by Iranian drones and North Korean artillery.