Ukraine’s armed forces ramp up special operations on left bank of Kherson region – ISW

The Institute for the Study of War assesses that the Ukrainian actions on the left bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson Region appear to be larger than the tactical raids that took place before. Geolocation footage indicates that the Defense Forces of Ukraine maintain a presence along the coastline of the Dnipro and near the Antonivsky railway bridge despite counterattacks by Russian troops.

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

Russian sources also discuss larger-than-usual Ukrainian ground operations on the eastern (left) bank of the Kherson region on October 19.

A well-known Russian military blogger, who initiated the Russian discussion about the Ukrainian assaults on the eastern bank on October 18, said on October 19 that two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Ukrainian marine brigade crossed the Dnipro River, defeated Russian forces in the area and captured a bridgehead in the village of Krynky (30 km east of the city of Kherson and approximately 2 km inland from the coastline of the Dnipro River).

He also claimed that Russian infantry counterattacked and pushed Ukrainian forces back to the outskirts of the village but noted that the Ukrainian troops still controlled some houses in Krynky and were awaiting reinforcements.

Another Russian military blogger stated that Ukrainian forces used more human resources in the Krynky attacks than in previous attacks.

Several Russian sources, including the head of occupation of the Kherson region, Volodymyr Saldo, claimed that the Russians managed to push back Ukrainian troops from the Poima-Pishchanivka-Pidstepne area (15 km east of Kherson) to the banks of the Dnipro River and to positions under the Antonivsky railway bridge, where, as they claim, Ukrainian forces are trying to rest and regroup under constant Russian air and artillery strikes.

The Ukrainian General Staff also acknowledged Ukrainian operations on the eastern bank. It announced on October 19 that Russian aircraft had struck Pishchanivka, implying that Ukrainian forces were operating in the city.

ISW Key Findings for October 19:

• Russian sources continued to discuss larger-than-usual Ukrainian ground operations on the east (left) bank of the Kherson region on October 19, and Ukrainian forces likely maintain a limited presence in some east bank areas near the Dnipro River shoreline and the Antonivsky railway bridge.
• Satellite imagery published on October 18 suggests that the Ukrainian ATACMS strike on the Luhansk City airfield likely damaged several helicopters on October 17.
• Ukrainian officials reported on October 19 that Ukrainian forces have downed five Russian fixed-wing aircraft in the Donetsk region within the past ten days amid high Russian ground vehicle losses near Avdiivka.
• Ukrainian forces reportedly advanced south of Bakhmut and western Zaporizhia region amid continued counteroffensive operations on October 19.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang, North Korea, on October 19, likely part of an ongoing Russian effort to procure additional munitions from North Korea.
• A Russian milblogger observed that Ukrainian forces are successfully and asymmetrically attriting Russian reserves in ongoing offensive operations.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) reportedly continues efforts to push remnants of the Wagner Group out of Syria.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line near Bakhmut, around Avdiivka, south of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia regions border area, and western Zaporizhia region and advanced in some areas.
• A Russian federal subject is attempting to compensate for labor shortages in its defense sector by spearheading an initiative to allow some minors to work in hazardous conditions.

For reference:
It should be noted that Ukrainian defenders have destroyed an impressive number of Russian invaders and equipment over the past day, October 19. Soldiers of Ukraine's armed forces eliminated another 1,380 invaders. Thus, the total losses of Russian troops since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in human resources amounted to about 292,060 soldiers. Also, Ukrainian fighters destroyed an additional 55 tanks and 120 armored fighting vehicles of the enemy. The Russians suffered the most losses on the Avdiivka front.