The attack on the bridge has sparked concerns that Russian forces may attempt to reclaim Kherson. Russia captured this city of 300,000 early in its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but was later pushed out that same year.
Holding Kherson, situated across the expansive Dnipro River from its main troops, proved challenging for Russia, and any returning forces would encounter similar difficulties.
“Attempting to land troops in the Korabel area following the bridge’s destruction seems like a suicide mission—it will be hard to expand the bridgehead and maintain it. The Dnipro serves as a formidable barrier. It could become a kill zone,” stated Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at the Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies.
The damage and potential destruction of the bridge won’t significantly impact the Ukrainian army’s ability to defend Kherson, according to Colonel Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern army command.
“The Dnipro delta is under the control of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Therefore, to reach the Korabel district, Russians must traverse several islands, straits, and the main river before landing on the shore,” commented Voloshyn, noting that Ukrainian forces have previously repelled all Russian attempts to capture islands in the Dnipro River.
Russian forces in the vicinity have regrouped. “They are attempting to land troops on nearly every island,” Voloshyn noted, but added, “We detect and neutralize those who try, striking and drowning them in the river.”
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