Restoration of dozens of villages in southern Kherson
Progress from the north to the south
Russia’s nuclear threat escalates
Ukrainian forces are also making strides in the southern Kherson province, which was annexed by Russia. Following the rapid recovery of the northeastern region, they break through the deadlocked southern front and hold the Russian army in custody.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense released a video on the 4th (local time) of the Ukrainian Marines’ 35th Brigade hoisting the Ukrainian flag over a communication tower in David Ubrid, Kherson Province. David Ubrid is located in the northeast of Kherson City, the capital of Kherson Province, and is a key point in Kherson Province.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech to the nation on the same day that “(our military) is making a quick and powerful move in the south” and “We have liberated dozens of villages this week alone.” Ukraine’s Deputy Interior Minister Yevheny Jenin said that “3,500 people in 50 villages of Kherson have been restored to freedom.”
The current trend is that Ukrainian forces will recover Kherson province before winter arrives. According to the BBC, Ukrainian forces have advanced south along the west bank of the Dnipro River, which runs through Kherson province, in the past 48 hours. “At the current pace of advance, Ukrainian forces will liberate Kherson in mid-November,” a senior Pentagon official told the Financial Times.
This month, the Ukrainian army began to change the tide of war by recovering the northeastern part of the Russian-occupied area. Following the northern Harki universe, the eastern logistical post, Lehman, was recovered. In southern Kherson, it seemed that they were only focused on cutting off Russian supply lines. However, it is analyzed that this time, it advanced quickly and broke through the loosened defenses of the Russian army and secured a large number of cities in Kherson Province.
Kherson in southern Ukraine, adjacent to Crimea, has been considered a key geopolitical location. This is because it is the source of water and electricity for the Krm Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. From the Russian perspective, if Kherson is lost, it is in danger of losing even the Krum Peninsula. Therefore, the Russian army carried out a mass offensive in the Krm Peninsula at the beginning of the war and took control of Kherson Province.
It is analyzed that this battle gave the Ukrainian army an advantage. However, there is an argument that the attack speed should be increased. According to the FT, southern Ukraine has not been frozen for three years. If the mud does not freeze in the Dnipro River area, the advance will be slowed down, giving the Russian army more time to prepare.
Concerns have also increased that Russia, which is at a disadvantage in the war, will attempt a nuclear attack. To prepare for this, Ukraine is setting up shelters in its capital, Kiiu. Kiiwu City Council announced on the same day that it will also prepare potassium iodide tablets in shelters to help prevent the body from absorbing radiation in the event of a nuclear attack.
On the 30th of last month, Russia pushed for annexation of the four regions of Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin made a statement suggesting a nuclear threat, saying, “We will use all means to protect our territory.” Ukraine’s move is believed to have taken Putin’s remarks in mind. The Times reported on the 3rd that a train of the Russian Defense Ministry’s nuclear equipment division was spotted moving toward Ukraine over the weekend in central Russia.
Reporter Oh Hyun-woo ohw@hankyung.com
