11 minutes agoRussia and Ukraine are preparing for a major battle at Kherson
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Russian and Ukrainian troops appear to be preparing for a major battle for the strategic industrial city of Kherson's southern port, in a region Russian President Vladimir Putin has illegally annexed and where he has placed the state of emergency. Wars and evacuations were announced in the Kherson region, while Moscow [...]
Wars and evacuations were announced in the Kherson region, while Moscow continued missile attacks and fears critical infrastructure.
The Russian president declared a state of emergency in the Kherson, Luhansk, Donnetsk and Zaporizhja regions on Wednesday in an effort to establish Russian authority in the annexed areas, as he faces obstacles in the field of battle, a problemsome troop mobilization, growing criticism both at home and abroad, and international sanctions.
The vague status of illegally annexed territory was particularly evident in the capital of the Kherson region, where Russian military officials have replaced civilian leaders imposed by the Kremlin as part of the military law that went into force Thursday to be protected by a Ukrainian counteroffensive.
The town of Kherson is the largest Russia has under control in Ukraine and is a key target for both sides because of its main industries and large river port. For months there have been reports of sabotages and murders of officials installed by Russia in Kherson, in one of the most active movements of Ukrainian resistance on occupied territory.
Officials installed by Russia have urged residents to evacuate for their safety and allow the military to build fortifications.
President Volodymyr Zelensky's office said on Thursday that Ukrainian forces carried out 15 attacks on Russian military bastions in the Kherson region. For his part, Russia's Defence Ministry spokesman said the Kremlin forces backed Ukraine's efforts to advance tanks to the villages of Sukhanovo, Nova Kamianka and Khersoni Yar.
An official installed by Russia in the region, Vladimir Leontyev, said Thursday that Ukrainian forces had undertaken five missile attacks against the Kakhovka dam and the hydropower plant about 70km from the town of Kherson. He said on Russian television that if the facilities were destroyed, a critical pipeline providing water for the annexed crime would cease.
Mr. Zelensky dismissed this claim by saying that it was the Russians who had mined the dam and the thermal power plant, with plans to blow up what he called a terrorist act to release 18 million cubic metres of water and flood Kherson and dozens of areas where hundreds of thousands of people live. He told the European Council that Russia would then blame Ukraine.
None of the claims could be independently verified. Voice of America
