The long-awaited counter-offensive did not work out as the Ukrainian command had expected, but Kyiv continues to attempt to achieve some victories in the Kherson region, especially toward Krynki.
Ukrainian units are retreating in almost all directions in Donbas and Zaporizhzhia region. It is quite clear that the Ukrainian command’s plans to cut off the Russian grouping on the eastern bank of the Dnieper and reach the Crimean peninsula are not going to come true.
Whereas Kyiv launched an offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region, the Ukrainian command was already preparing for the opening of a second front – an offensive across the Dnieper. It was expected that the military would land on the eastern bank and conduct a successful operation, but this failed to happen.
At present, the Ukrainian military operations in the Kherson region are ongoing, the results of which are measured in human casualties.
As of the middle of October, the main efforts of the Ukrainian command were focused on holding and expanding the bridgehead north of the river near Krynki. Ukrainian forces retain control over the central part of the village but are unable to move inland due to constant air attacks.
A large number of Ukrainian units are concentrated near Krynki: 13th separate battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine, 36th Marine Brigade, 126th battalion of the 245th Territorial Defence Brigade, elite units of the 35th and 38th Marine Brigades, 503rd separate battalion of the AFU Marines and 164th separate radio-technical brigade of the 37th Marine Brigade.
The reason for such frequent replenishments is the heavy losses suffered by the Ukrainian military on the eastern coast. Nevertheless, landing on the coast also involves a number of difficulties. Since Ukrainian groups regularly cross the Dnieper at night by boat, the vessels are exposed to fire when landing on the eastern bank. Another rotation was disrupted on the night of 9 December. According to reports from the front, 6 Ukrainian boats were destroyed and another 5 were damaged.
Ukrainian positions on both banks of the river are under constant attack by Russian aircraft; despite the Ukrainian military’s efforts to secure the area with a network of air defence systems, Russian forces continue to launch heavy strikes.
Summing up, the situation on the front is not that pleasing for the Ukrainian command, as attacking without a bridgehead the left bank, which is firmly held by the Russian military, will not bring much due to the intense casualties.
