The new commander of the Kremlin forces in Ukraine, Sergei Surovikin, admits that the situation on the southern front is “particularly tense”.
The new commander in chief of Russian forces in Ukraine, Sergei Surovikin, has admitted that the situation in Kherson is “tense”. The pro-Russian authorities in this region, recently annexed by Moscow after holding a referendum that the international community does not recognize, have begun the evacuation of civilians fearing a large-scale Ukrainian counter-offensive.
The head of the local occupation administration, Vladimir Saldo, estimates the number of citizens to be transferred at 60,000, at a rate of 10,000 per day for six days. The Ria-Novosti agency has indicated that evacuations by boat have already started and, citing another pro-Russian official, Yevgeny Melnikov, has stated that citizens can go to Russia. The Kremlin said last week it will set up a resettlement program for those who request it.
Surovikin justifies the evacuation because of an alleged Ukrainian threat against a dam supplying the region with water. “Food delivery is difficult; and there are certain problems with the supply of water and electricity. All this not only significantly complicates the lives of civilians, but also poses a direct threat to their lives,” he said, before warning that his troops “do not rule out making difficult decisions” regarding the local population.
Surovikin, in his first interview since taking office, acknowledges that his troops are experiencing “difficulties” on the ground. It is unusual for Russian generals to speak so candidly about military problems. Surovikin stated that the situation is especially unfavorable on the southern front, in Kherson. “It can be described as tense,” he said.
“Further actions and plans regarding the city of Kherson will depend on the development of the tactical-military situation, which is not easy. We will act consciously, at the right time, without excluding difficult decisions,” he added in an interview on Rossiya 24 channel.
It is a strategic area, as Kherson is connected to the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, allowing the Kremlin to maintain supply lines for its troops from the peninsula. Moreover, the conquest of this region at the beginning of the invasion allowed the Russians to close off much of Kiev’s access to the Black Sea.
But the capital Jersón also has a high symbolic value. It is the only provincial capital captured by Moscow since the beginning of the war and, together with Mariupol, is the most important city. Its recapture is seen as one of Ukraine’s most important military goals, as Volodymyr Zelensky himself acknowledged in July.
Following Kiev’s advances on the eastern front, in Kharkov province, efforts are now turning to the south. But the conquest of Kherson will not be easy. The city is located on the western bank of the Dnipro River, the largest in the country. It is a difficult natural obstacle to overcome and in recent days the Ukrainian army has made several attempts to move its troops to the left bank of the river in Zaporizhzhya and Kherson provinces.
Source: La Verdad
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