Ukraine launches counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied Kherson
Kherson #Kherson
Ukrainian forces have launched a much-anticipated counteroffensive in the south of the country, including around Kherson, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern military command announced on Monday.
Driving the news: The announcement followed reports of Ukrainian artillery strikes on Russian positions in Kherson Oblast, and unconfirmed claims from Ukrainian officials that Russia’s “first line of defense” near Kherson had been breached.
The latest: Two senior U.S. officials told CNN’s Jim Scuitto that Ukraine is targeting Russian weapons systems, command and control centers and ammunition depots in preparation for advances in southern Ukraine.
The backstory: Russia took large swaths of southern Ukraine in the opening days of the war, advancing north from occupied Crimea. Even as Russian forces were repulsed from Kyiv and bogged down in the east, they solidified their hold on Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
Between the lines: The flow of U.S.-made weaponry, including much-needed artillery ammunition, has strengthened Ukraine’s position.
What to watch: The Economist and others have cautioned that the threat of annexation and the need to shift the battlefield momentum could push Kyiv to move too soon.