New AFU Offensive Phase: Kherson Frontline 'Moved' 20 Kilometres Deep

Russian troops are retreating without even trying to take the fight.

A new stage of the offensive of the Ukrainian Defence Forces in the Kherson region began on October 2. Ukrainian soldiers have moved the front line 20 km since then, reaching the eastern bank of the Inhulets River and the western bank of the Dnipro River and approaching the temporarily occupied Nova Kakhovka.

Russian occupiers retreat , as a rule, under the onslaught of the Ukrainian troops, often without even trying to take the fight. The British Ministry of Defence reported in an analytical summary as of October 6.

According to the British Defense Ministry, since the start of a new stage of offensive operations in the Kherson region on October 2, Ukrainian units have pushed the front line forwards by up to an additional 20km into the Russian-occupied territories of the region.

"Advancing south, Ukrainian units have pushed the front line forwards by up to an additional 20km, primarily making gains along the east bank of the Inhulets and west bank of the Dnipro, but not yet threatening the main Russian defensive positions. Russian forces have typically broken contact and withdrawn. Russian commanders are likely to see the growing threat to the Nova Kakhovka sector as one of their most pressing concerns," the British Ministry of Defence noted.

Recall that the bridge of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant is located near Nova Kakhovka. Despite serious damage, in this area, it remains one of the few routes available for Russia to resupply forces.

Now, the Russian command faces a dilemma: to increase its ability to keep at least part of the occupied Kherson region, or to follow the orders of the Kremlin, risking losing the entire region.

“Russia faces a dilemma: withdrawal of combat forces across the Dnipro makes the defence of the rest of Kherson Oblast more tenable; but the political imperative will be to remain and defend,” the British Defence Intelligence is convinced.

The British intelligence also noted that at present Russia has committed the majority of its severely undermanned airborne forces, the VDV, to the defence of Kherson along the Armed Forces of Ukraine offensive line. Most likely, they will throw the newly mobilized Russians into the battle against the Ukrainian soldiers.

“Thus, Russia still has some additional high-quality rapid deployment forces to stabilize the front: it probably aims to deploy mobilized reservists in this sector,” the British Ministry of Defenсe noted.