Ukraine’s long-heralded counter-offensive is underway. No reliable statements can be made about the success rate. Kiev reports frontline breakthroughs in Kherson region and Russian army withdraws.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Russian soldiers to withdraw. “It is time for the Russian army to leave,” Zelenskyy said in his video address. “Go home.” Almost the entire territory of the Kherson region is affected, the offensive is going in several directions.
Kiev assumes a long mission
Why is Kherson so important? First, it was the first – and so far only – Ukrainian provincial capital to be captured by Russia, allowing for a land bridge to the south. Without Kherson it is almost impossible to take over the port city of Odessa. But more importantly, Kherson is a coastal town on the Dnipro River. The supply of fresh water to the Crimean peninsula is regulated through the North Crimean Canal, which has its starting point in Nowa Kachowka near the city.
Even the propaganda of the Kremlin in Russia could not hide the loss of Kherson. The fighting in the region is fierce and the Ukrainian General Staff expects a longer offensive.
Fear of nuclear disaster
The advance on the city of Kherson follows weeks of virtual standstill in the war that has been going on for more than six months. Meanwhile, fears of a nuclear catastrophe continue to grow due to the continued shelling of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhya.
On Tuesday, the government deployed by Russia in the Ukrainian city of Enerhodar reported renewed shelling at the site of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency will arrive at the plant later this week.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
