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Ukraine must win the “crucial battle” for the strategic city of Kherson in the south before the winter hits, a Ukrainian official has said, because further advancements will be near impossible in the treacherous and cold conditions. Ukraine’s southern regions, located just north of the Black Sea, are already in the rainy season, which has made it more difficult to use armoured vehicles, and a “critical” battle for Kherson is expected imminently. Should Ukraine recapture the city, which was one of the first areas to be occupied by Russia, it would significantly hamper Russia’s ability to supply their soldiers currently on the front lines, as well as making it considerably more difficult to mobilise their reservists.
Ms Rudik said: “The battle for Kherson will be the crucial battle for the war that Russia started on us.
“It is critical both for Russian forces to keep it and for Ukrainian forces to regain the city in the upcoming autumn.
“In winter, it will be very hard to fight because of the low temperature. It will be like a natural freeze in the progress of the war.
“This is why before it hits, we are trying to regain as much territory as possible. Kherson is a critical point of our territories because it is one regional centre that Russia was able to capture since February 24 [the start of the invasion].”
The city of Kherson is located on the Black Sea and runs just above the Dnipro river, roughly 120 kilometres north of Crimea.
As a city at the very south of Ukraine, it was one of the first areas to be attacked by Russia in February.
It has since provided Putin’s forces with a vital route into Ukraine from Crimea, with soldiers and munitions supplies running through the city.
Ukraine troops have, in the past few weeks, advanced to regions north of the city, liberating various small towns and villages around the strategic centre.
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