The Ukrainian army has been successful in attacking strategic targets in the southern city of Kherson, previously captured by the Russians. The city is virtually cut off from other Russian-occupied areas, officials within the British Ministry of Defense said BBC News.
The Ukrainian army bombarded key bridges with rocket attacks. On Thursday, the important Antonivskiy Bridge over the Dnipro River was damaged to such an extent that it can no longer be driven over.
This makes it difficult for the Russians to supply their troops. The bridge is one of two routes they can take to cross the Dnipro. Both routes are now impassable. A third bridge, one over the Inhulets River northeast of Kherson, was also destroyed. With that, Kherson threatens to become completely cut off from other occupied territories.
The Ukrainians use the HIMARS missile systems supplied by western countries. These systems allow the Ukrainian army to target targets very accurately.
According to the British Ministry of Defense, Ukraine is building momentum to make the counter-offensive in Kherson succeed. The Russian army is currently moving large numbers of troops into the southern city in an effort to fend off the counteroffensive.
Ukraine claims tipping point
Ukraine’s military, meanwhile, claims to have reached a “tipping point” in retaking Kherson, writes The Guardian. Ukraine says it can recapture Kherson in September with the help of Western weapons. Whether that will actually work remains to be seen.
Kherson was the first major Ukrainian city captured by the Russians after the March 24 invasion. It took the army just under two weeks to take the city. Kherson is strategically located west of the Dnipro and adjacent to the Black Sea.
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