After the announced withdrawal from Kherson in southern Ukraine, the Russian armed forces want to make it more difficult to recapture the city. According to British intelligence, troops destroyed bridges and also laid mines. Apparently, the Russians fear that Ukraine may advance even further. New trenches are being dug in northern Crimea, satellite photos show.
Shared on Twitter by Swiss Benjamin Pittet, a specialist in OSINT (open source intelligence), the images show old trenches being repaired and new ones at the Chonhar checkpoint between Kherson Oblast and the Crimean peninsula. have been excavated (see below).
Fortifications in Kherson and Crimea
The same is happening in other places in northern Crimea, which have been annexed by Russia since 2014, such as in Armyansk. Satellite images from early November also show fortifications being built in Kherson Oblast, southeast of the Dnipro River.
Russians lay mines in settlements
Russia is now trying to withdraw its soldiers to the left bank of the Dnipro. The announced withdrawal is expected to last several days and will be accompanied by artillery fire to protect the retreating units, the Ministry of Defense said. The Russian units are especially vulnerable when crossing the Dnipro, given the limited possibilities. As they retreat, soldiers loyal to Moscow are laying mines along roads and also in settlements, Ukrainska Pravda reports, citing Ukrainian police.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Wednesday that he would withdraw from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson and other parts of the territory occupied there. According to British intelligence, the loss of the region will have far-reaching consequences: It will likely deprive Russia of its strategic goal of building a land bridge to the port city of Odessa.
Advance “without unnecessary risk”
Ukrainian attacks on Russian supply routes would have made their position in Kherson untenable. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also emphasized on Wednesday evening that the withdrawal of the Russian occupier is mainly due to the successes of the Ukrainian armed forces. At the same time, he called for restraint. The military will continue “without undue risk,” Zelenskyj said in a video address.
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.
