Fighting is ongoing on the east bank of the Dnieper River—called the Dnipro in Ukrainian—in southern Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast, with occupying Russian forces so far unable to destroy a small Ukrainian bridgehead that threatens to revive a portion of the front largely dormant for a year.
The Institute for the Study of War’s Monday evening bulletin showed Ukrainian forces retaining hard-fought positions on the Russian-occupied side of the river, which since the liberation of Kherson in November 2022 has formed a large portion of the southern front line. Kyiv’s forces have been conducting small-scale raids and incursions across the waterway ever since.
Ukrainian east bank positions are concentrated in Krynky and Pishchanivka, around 19 miles northeast and 6 miles southeast of Kherson city, respectively. ISW cited Russian milbloggers as reporting a slight expansion of the Ukrainian area of control around Krynky in recent days, though others reported failed Ukrainian attacks and successful Russian counters.
Ukrainian units have also been trying to expand their footprint in Pishchanivka, ISW reported, citing Russian milbloggers. Moscow’s forces are reportedly trying to stymie the effort by attacking supplies and reinforcements being brought across the river.
Institute for the Study of War and AEI’s Critical Threats Project
Ukrainian actions have not precipitated a local Russian withdrawal, as was reported by Russian state media agency Tass on Monday citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
The outlet quickly corrected itself, posting on Telegram: “The news that ‘The command of the Dnepr group has decided to regroup troops to more advantageous positions east of the Dnieper’ is WITHDRAWN as [it was] released erroneously. We apologize to our subscribers and readers.”
The Russian Defense Ministry told news outlet RBC that the “false message” of the claimed “regrouping” was “a provocation.” Newsweek has contacted the ministry by email to request further comment.
Ukrainian sources also dismissed the report, with the National Resistance Center alleging that the Tass report was designed to throw Kyiv’s forces off balance. “Russian propagandists began an operation aimed at distracting the Defense Forces of Ukraine and announced the withdrawal of their troops from the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson Region,” the center said.
“Currently, according to locals’ information, no relevant movements of enemy troops have been recorded. Therefore, we can state that there is currently an information operation against Ukraine.”
Fighting in the Kherson riverside region has been less intense than in other areas of the front over the last 12 months. But the area is strategically vital, serving as the gateway to Russian-occupied Crimea and the end of Moscow’s so-called “land bridge” connecting the peninsula to western Russia.
Though ground operations have been limited by the terrain and demands of the war elsewhere, artillery, air, and drone strikes by both sides remain constant. Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command said on Monday that Russian aircraft dropped 41 glide bombs in Kherson Oblast over the previous 24 hours.
The Command said Russian forces are also using TOS-1A thermobaric artillery systems to strike Ukrainian positions and populated areas on the liberated west bank of the river.
ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Images
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.