The new supreme commander of Russian troops in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin, expects a massive Ukrainian attack to liberate the occupied city of Kherson. “The situation is difficult on this section of the front,” said Surovikin on Tuesday, according to Russian agencies. He said Ukraine was shelling apartment buildings and the city’s infrastructure. Artillery hits made Ukraine’s crossings over the Dnipro River impassable. This complicates the supply of the city.
“We will act carefully and in a timely manner and do not rule out difficult decisions,” said the general, without giving details. The head of the Russian occupation administration, Vladimir Saldo, said the Civilians in some regions on the north right bank of the Dnipro should be evacuated.
The city of Cherson is also on the right bank of the Dnipro. In March it fell into Russian hands as the only Ukrainian regional capital. President Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of the region to Russia in October. For several weeks now, the Ukrainian army has been advancing towards Cherson again. The Russian soldiers on the right bank are largely cut off from their supplies.
After several setbacks for the Russian army in the war of aggression against Ukraine, Putin put the command in one hand for the first time in early October. He appointed Surovikin commander-in-chief for the special military operation, as Russia officially calls the war.