Picture of the 37th week of the war: Kherson’s liberation and russian’s retreat from Kherson

Kherson region

The key events of the war this week took place in the Kherson region. On November 9, russian defense minister shoigu announced that russian troops were withdrawing to the left bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region. The recapture of the right bank, including Kherson, was expected since the summer when Ukraine launched its counteroffensive in the region. The fact that this was a matter of time was obvious to everyone except, in fact, the Russian command, which continued to hope for a miracle. But in the end, even they understood that keeping a multi-thousand-strong group surrounded by Ukrainian troops and a large river, without normal supply routes, in the medium term leads to its unequivocal defeat. Although it was definitely a difficult political decision for the russians, military expediency prevailed this time. "The decision on defense on the left bank of the Dnieper is not an easy one, at the same time we will preserve the lives of our soldiers and the combat effectiveness of the troop group," explained (or rather justified) the commander of the occupation forces, Serhiy Surovikin.

Destroyed Anotovskiy bridge by russians while retreating

Some of the russian troops were able to withdraw in an organized manner, some were forced to abandon equipment and supplies and cross to the left bank of the Dnieper, even on boats. Although the retreat ended in escape, the majority of the russian group (according to various estimates from 10 to 20 thousand troops) probably managed to leave the region. In a few days, Ukrainian troops gained control over dozens of settlements. In particular, the entire Mykolaiv region (except Kinburn spit) was liberated from the occupiers. On November 11, advanced units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine entered Kherson. The Ukrainian flag was raised over the city. 

It can already be said that the loss of Kherson is russia's biggest defeat since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The only regional center that they managed to take, an important bridgehead for the further offensive to the south of Ukraine, was lost. After such a victory, Ukraine is unlikely to stop and continue the deoccupation of its territories. And although russia can transfer part of the troops withdrawn from Kherson to other directions, in particular to Donbas, it is unlikely that this will help them to advance in any significant way.

Donetsk area

Active fighting continues in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are moving towards the strategically important city of Svatov, Luhansk region. Bringing it back under Ukrainian control would mean cutting off important logistical routes through which the occupying army in Donbas currently receives supplies from russia. Therefore, the enemy is actively trying to hinder the counteroffensive of Ukrainian forces, including throwing mobilized soldiers at them. At the same time, the unprepared troops of the russian federation suffer catastrophic losses.

The aggressor continues to conduct offensive actions in the area of Bakhmut, Avdiiv and Novopavliv, but with no significant progress. The defense forces of Ukraine confidently hold their positions. Constant assaults on the fortified positions of Ukrainian defenders also lead to numerous losses of the enemy – hundreds of occupiers remain forever in Ukrainian land every day.

The situation in the occupied territories

As a result of Ukraine's military successes in the Kherson region, numerous cases of looting and destruction of civilian infrastructure by the Russians have occurred. The occupiers are taking away household appliances, construction materials, artistic and historical values ​​by whole trucks. The Russians blew up power lines and a solar power plant near the city of Beryslav in the Kherson region. They also try to interrupt people's information provision and dismantle mobile towers.

Police terror is intensifying on other occupied territories. Frightened by yet another military defeat, the russians are looking for activists of the resistance forces. Moreover, even the traitors of Ukraine began to come under suspicion – they are seen as double agents.

Ukrainian partisans and special services of Ukraine continue to hunt for representatives of the occupying "power". On November 11, an explosion occurred in Melitopol in the entrance of Andrii Boyko, the head of the occupation "department of culture and sports". He was hospitalized with a concussion. Cases of "strange" deaths among the local elite of the occupiers continue. Thus, the "deputy head" of the Kherson region, Kyrylo Stremousov, died in a road accident. It seems that the Russian Federation is destroying collaborators who are no longer needed, but who knew too much.

Protection of borders

The transfer of russian troops to belarus continues, but it is still too early to talk about the formation of a strike group. As before, the maneuvers are more like an attempt to pull the main Ukrainian defense forces away from the south and east of the country, where active hostilities are currently ongoing. As noted by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the future, russian-belarusian troops may be deployed in the north of Ukraine, in the Volyn and Polisky operational zones. Taras Chmut, a military expert and the head of one of the largest "Return Alive" funds, emphasized that the enemy group will be able to try to seize one of the key energy facilities of Ukraine – the Rivne Nuclear power plant. 

But a repeated attack on Kyiv is unlikely – the capital region has significantly strengthened its defenses, compared to the beginning of the year.

The Russians continue to shell the border areas with artillery and mortars. Yes, only on November 9, the aggressor released 190 shells and mines on the territory of the Sumy region.

Controlled and liberated territories of Ukraine

Shelling of controlled territory by Russian missiles and drones continues. During the current week, the enemy fired about 20 missiles and used more than 50 UAVs in populated areas of Ukraine. Up to half of them were destroyed by air defense forces.

In response to this, more and more fortified shelters for civilians are appearing in Ukrainian cities. So, this week in the city of Dnipro, mobile bomb shelters were installed at public transport stops, where you can hide during an air raid. They are able to protect people from debris and cluster shells in the event of shelling. Ukrainian cities are turning into real fortresses.

Situation with critical infrastructure

The energy situation continues to be tense. Both stabilization and emergency blackouts continue in most regions of the country. Although there have been no mass attacks this week, russia continues to target critical infrastructure with drones and missiles. Also, russian hackers are constantly attacking energy facilities, trying to blackout the entire Ukraine. The number of such attacks can reach 10 per day, the SBU reported.

DTEK, Ukraine's largest energy company, noted that 40% of their infrastructure was damaged, and it would be impossible to restore it in the short term. However, with the help of international partners, Ukrainian energy workers will have a chance to quickly restore damaged facilities. Thus, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson emphasized that the EU would help Ukraine cope with the energy crisis by providing the necessary equipment to replace the one destroyed by the Russian army.

We are supported

The international community continues to provide assistance to Ukraine in the armed conflict with russia. The US has confirmed that Ukraine has received two NASAMS air defense systems. Another batch of military equipment and ammunition arrived from Germany, including Dingo armored personnel carriers, missiles for Iris-T SLM, anti-drone sensors. Great Britain has announced the transfer of 1,000 surface-to-air missiles to help combat the Russian threat to Ukrainian infrastructure. France is going to hand over six more Caesar howitzers to Ukraine.

Solutions to win and recommendations

After the successful attack of naval drones on a russian ship in Sevastopol on October 29, Ukraine decided to create the world's first fleet of such drones. The UNITED 24 platform organized a collection for 100 marine UAVs. The price of one complex is about UAH 10 million. The implementation of the decision can significantly weaken the activity of the enemy fleet, in particular the missile-carrying ships that terrorize Ukrainian cities with shelling.