Russians prepare for battles in Ukraine’s south

Russian troops are preparing for defense in the south of Ukraine. The invaders are waiting for battles in the occupied part of the Kherson Oblast, as well as Crimea, the Institute for the Study of War reported. The occupiers are concerned about a possible attempt by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to cross the Dnipro River.

Russian media claim that the Ukrainian defense forces are continuing to strengthen long-term positions on the islands of the Dnipro River and the left bank of the Kherson Oblast.

“Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated that Russian forces are actively equipping forward positions, laying mines, and engineering fortifications on the east (left) bank of the Dnipro River,” the review states. 

The Russians laid at least three minefields on the left bank of the Kherson Oblast. In addition, the invaders are quickly rebuilding the Kerch (Crimean) bridge to support the logistics of Russian troops in southern Ukraine in winter.

The Atesh partisan movement also confirmed that the Russians were preparing for battles in the occupied part of the Kherson Oblast. “Atesh’s agent from the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation reports that active preparation for large-scale battles in the Kherson Oblast is underway. Considering this, the occupiers began to move their command posts from Henichesk to the Dzhankoi district. Two such cases are already known,” the partisans reported.

Atesh agents in Crimea also observe an increase in the transfer of military equipment and ammunition to mainland Ukraine. “We will do everything to prevent this equipment from reaching its destination!” the partisans said.

The total number of Russian troops defending in this direction is more than 75 thousand people, together with mobilized Ukrainians from the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson Oblasts. The Institute for the Study of War said that the Russian military command is also forming new units from mobilized units in the Crimean area.