According to him, Russia is trying to strengthen control over the occupied territory and establish civil authorities there, whose task is to hold a referendum on the annexation of these areas to Russia.
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In its Thursday analysis, the British Ministry of Defense reported that Ukrainian artillery damaged three strategic bridges on the Dnieper River with its attacks, almost cutting off the city of Kherson from other areas occupied by the Russian army.
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“In the Kherson region, Russian forces very likely built two pontoon bridges and launched a ferry system in response to the fact that nearby bridges were damaged in recent attacks,” the British Ministry of Defense said on Saturday. According to him, the Ukrainians managed to repel several smaller attacks on the front line in Donetsk.
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Ukraine is preparing a counterattack
According to London, Russia is also trying to strengthen its control over the civilian population living in the occupied territories. “The Russian-installed authorities are very likely under increasing pressure from Moscow to consolidate control over the area and hold referendums on joining Russia later this year,” the British Ministry of Defense said.
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Ukrainian officials announced this week that an operation to liberate Kherson had begun, according to The Guardian. The Russian troops called for the city to leave, surrender, or prepare to be destroyed.
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