Russia concedes Ukrainian troops have crossed Dnipro River
Published: 04:11 PM,Nov 15,2023 | EDITED : 08:11 PM,Nov 15,2023
A view shows residential houses heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, in the town of Selydove, Donetsk region, Ukraine. — Reuters
KYIV: Russia conceded for the first time on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had crossed the vast River Dnipro into areas of Kherson region, but said it had sent in more troops to stop them as Kyiv tries to open a new line of attack to annexed Crimea.
Ukraine said it had secured a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnipro 'against all odds', a potentially major setback for Russian forces in the south.
A Ukrainian military spokesperson added on Wednesday that Ukrainian troops were trying to push Russian forces back from the eastern bank of the river, which serves as a formidable natural barrier on the battlefield.
Vladimir Saldo, the governor of the part of Kherson region which Moscow controls, acknowledged in a statement that Ukrainian forces had managed to cross the river, but said they were taking heavy losses.
'Our additional forces have now been brought in. The enemy is trapped in the settlement of Krynky and a fiery attack has been arranged for him: bombs, rockets, heavy flamethrower systems, artillery shells and drones,' said Saldo.
Citing what he said was first-hand information from Russia's 'Dnepr' military grouping, he said Ukrainian forces were pinned down in basements in the day and predicted the Ukrainian assault would be thwarted.
The village of Krynky lies close to the Dnipro around 30 km northeast of the city of Kherson, which Ukraine recaptured almost exactly a year ago.
Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for Ukraine's southern military command, described the frontline as 'fairly fluid' and said Kyiv's forces had been putting Russian troops under pressure along the river.
'The pushback from our side is taking place on a line from 3 to 8 km along the entire bank from the water's edge,' she said.
'For now, we will ask for informational silence... which would allow us to report later on great successes,' she said in televised comments.
Russia has largely held Kyiv's counteroffensive at bay in the southeast, but an advance in occupied Kherson region could spread their defences thinner and ratchet up pressure.
'Against all the odds, Ukraine's defence forces have gained a foothold on the left eastern bank of the Dnipro,' President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff said on Tuesday.
The official, Andriy Yermak, said that Ukraine's counteroffensive, which it launched in June, was 'developing' and that Kyiv knew 'how to achieve victory'.
Russia's military said last week its forces had thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to forge a bridgehead on the eastern bank and nearby islands, inflicting heavy losses. — Reuters
Ukraine said it had secured a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnipro 'against all odds', a potentially major setback for Russian forces in the south.
A Ukrainian military spokesperson added on Wednesday that Ukrainian troops were trying to push Russian forces back from the eastern bank of the river, which serves as a formidable natural barrier on the battlefield.
Vladimir Saldo, the governor of the part of Kherson region which Moscow controls, acknowledged in a statement that Ukrainian forces had managed to cross the river, but said they were taking heavy losses.
'Our additional forces have now been brought in. The enemy is trapped in the settlement of Krynky and a fiery attack has been arranged for him: bombs, rockets, heavy flamethrower systems, artillery shells and drones,' said Saldo.
Citing what he said was first-hand information from Russia's 'Dnepr' military grouping, he said Ukrainian forces were pinned down in basements in the day and predicted the Ukrainian assault would be thwarted.
The village of Krynky lies close to the Dnipro around 30 km northeast of the city of Kherson, which Ukraine recaptured almost exactly a year ago.
Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for Ukraine's southern military command, described the frontline as 'fairly fluid' and said Kyiv's forces had been putting Russian troops under pressure along the river.
'The pushback from our side is taking place on a line from 3 to 8 km along the entire bank from the water's edge,' she said.
'For now, we will ask for informational silence... which would allow us to report later on great successes,' she said in televised comments.
Russia has largely held Kyiv's counteroffensive at bay in the southeast, but an advance in occupied Kherson region could spread their defences thinner and ratchet up pressure.
'Against all the odds, Ukraine's defence forces have gained a foothold on the left eastern bank of the Dnipro,' President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff said on Tuesday.
The official, Andriy Yermak, said that Ukraine's counteroffensive, which it launched in June, was 'developing' and that Kyiv knew 'how to achieve victory'.
Russia's military said last week its forces had thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to forge a bridgehead on the eastern bank and nearby islands, inflicting heavy losses. — Reuters