Russian forces have no resources to recapture Kherson – South Forces Group spox
Russian forces have no way to "take back Kherson", states Natalia Humeniuk, the joint press center spox, Suspilne cites.
She claims Russia pools its efforts to suppress Ukrainian advance on the left bank by planning its campaign of recapturing Kherson, the city liberated last September.
Russian troops were greatly encouraged by the presence of the Ukrainian military on the left bank of the Dnipro.
"Russian forces in contrast to this fact, have launched a campaign called 'Let's bring back Kherson'. Although this is difficult to do even geographically. The right bank is higher than the left, so it is impossible to move without being noticed. Our positions are higher and the river is clearly visible. Russian troops left no other way to cross to the right bank. When they were leaving Kherson, they blew up all the bridges," said Humeniuk.
She adds that Russian troops can only attack from the water or air. They will not launch an airborne assault, afraid to approach the right bank, as they may be hit.
Over the past day, Ukrainian troops destroyed seven Russian observation posts and a field ammunition depot, eliminated two cannons, a Grad missile system, a mortar, an electronic warfare station, a Murom-M system, and 22 Russian servicemen.
"All of this is the work of a joint force that operates on the ground on the left bank and counter-battery at a distance. The drones that Russian troops sent from the temporarily occupied Crimea have all been destroyed," said Humeniuk.
The peculiarity of combat operations against drones flying through populated areas is that despite being downed, civilian houses are still left destroyed.
On the night of December 20, during another drone attack, Ukrainian forces destroyed six Russian drones.
On the morning of November 17, the Ukrainian Navy's Marine Corps Command officially announced a foothold in several areas.
During the fighting, Russian forces suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment, having 1216 soldiers eliminated and 2217 wounded.
At the end of October, ISW analysts reported that Russia was concerned about the prolonged actions of Ukrainian troops on the eastern shore of the Kherson region and considered it part of a potentially larger Ukrainian operation.
One prominent Russian military blogger reported that two Ukrainian "assault groups" landed on the eastern bank and broke through the initial defenses, occupying the entire Poima and positions on the northern outskirts of Pishchanivka.
On November 14, Ukrainian forces advanced northwest of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region and on the left bank of the Kherson region.
The AFU General Staff explained these advancing actions by urging to push Russian forces away from the right bank to reduce the shelling of civilians.
