Ukraine’s forces advancing in Kherson region with russians trying to retreat – ISW

The Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson region is progressing. The russian forces are trying to slow it down and retreat to more protected positions rather than stopping it or pushing it back.

The American Institute reported this for the Study of War (ISW).

Continued Ukrainian attacks on russian ground lines of communication (GLOC) across the Dnipro in the western Kherson region appear to have an increasing impact on russian supplies on the right bank. The latest reports indicate a shortage of food and water in russian-occupied Kherson and, at least, a temporary weakening of russian artillery fire. In addition, in some areas of the russian front line, low-quality units were defeated, which allowed Ukrainian troops to advance.

In the coming weeks, Ukrainian forces are likely to retake most, if not all, of the western Kherson region if they continue to disrupt russian GLOCs and advance. The russians are trying to retreat to more protected positions as part of a controlled retreat to avoid the chaotic retreat typical of the collapse of the russian defense in the Kharkiv region.

According to ISW, Ukrainian progress may be slow if the russian forces are aligned, but they may accelerate significantly.

Despite russia's efforts to contain them, Ukrainian troops continue strengthening their positions on the eastern bank of the Oskil River in the Kharkiv region.

The Donetsk region is currently the only region where russian forces are still trying to conduct offensive operations. According to ISW, there are periodic reports of limited Ukrainian counterattacks, but there is no evidence that Ukraine is preparing a large-scale counteroffensive operation in the area.

In addition, ISW notes that russian president vladimir putin appears to be increasingly relying on irregular, poorly trained special volunteer and puppet units instead of rebuilding the broken units of the russian ground forces.

Read Rubryka's timeline of war: current news on Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression.