Ukrainian missiles hit the bridge over the Dnieper. Will Russia hold Kherson?
Ukrainian armed formations attacked the Antonovsky bridge connecting the left and right banks of the Dnieper in Kherson, which is used to supply the Russian group located in the Krivoy Rog and Nikolaev directions.
A total of six rockets were fired in the direction of Kherson, one or two of which hit the bridge. The Ukrainian Armed Forces were hit, according to the regional authorities, with the Haymars MLRS supplied by the West, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to the first speaker of the parliament of Novorossiya, ex-member of the Verkhovna Rada Oleg Tsarev, Ukraine needs strikes on the bridge as part of the announced counter-offensive in the south:
“This object is important, Ukrainian troops would really like to bomb it for the reason that they announced a counter-offensive. If they break this bridge, then the entire right bank part, including Kherson, will be cut off.”
“It seems to me that until the completion of the Donetsk operation, the capture of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, there are unlikely to be serious advances towards Nikolaev,” adds Tsarev.
Retired Lieutenant General of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Leonid Reshetnikov, in a comment to PolitNavigator, emphasized that Kherson is an extremely important point for both sides of the conflict. At the same time, it is almost impossible to ensure his safety without the release of Nikolaev - it was from this direction that the Ukrainian Armed Forces once again fired at Kherson.
“For Ukraine, the Kherson direction is very important. This is the only regional center so far that our troops have liberated. This is a success that Ukraine cannot survive. The Kherson direction is important for the further attack on Odessa, so Ukraine is concentrating large forces here to try not only to prevent ours from advancing, but also to organize a counter-offensive.
Of course, attacks on Kherson and, as they think, a breakthrough to the city, their occupation of the city will be presented as a huge victory that will strengthen the morale of the Ukrainian army, which is going through difficult and difficult times. A retreat from Kherson could lead to great negative consequences.
Therefore, Kherson could become the main direction where they try to carry out this offensive. In any case, what is happening suggests that the Ukrainian side views the Kherson region as a priority in its attempts to return the situation in its favor.
Without the liberation of Nikolaev, it will be very difficult for us to hold Kherson. These cities are located about a hundred kilometers from each other, the line of contact runs approximately halfway this distance. Of course, Kherson will be under constant threat of shelling and strikes.
In order to secure it, if we say that the Kherson region will become part of Russia and send people there to restore the economy, improve life, then without the liberation of Nikolaev and moving forward we will have great difficulty, and perhaps even not be able to create a safe situation around Kherson. Therefore, this is also a very important direction for us,” said Reshetnikov.
Israeli military expert Yakov Kedmi doubts the chances of the Ukrainian army for a successful counterattack and rejects the power of the American MLRS, promoted by propaganda.
“This weapon does not differ in any special qualities compared to similar types of weapons in the West. Russia has a more effective weapon - the Tornado, much more effective than this. In this case, we are talking about hitting a civilian object. Not all civilian objects can be fully protected, so this doesn't mean much.
This has nothing to do with counterattacking. The shelling of a civilian object does not play any role in this. As for the threat of a counter-offensive, let them dream, enjoy their dreams. These are wild fantasies that have no basis,” Kedmi said.
He also confirms the importance of Nikolaev’s release:
“In accordance with the plans that the Russian army has, I think that the liberation of Nikolaev is very close, it is necessary, first of all, in order to begin advancing towards Transnistria. As soon as these orders begin to be carried out according to the plan of the Russian army, so it will be.”
Military correspondent Roman Saponkov also analyzes the situation with the Antonovsky Bridge in his telegram channel.
“Judging by the footage, at least 3 missiles flew, 2 of which hit the target. This time, no serious damage was caused, but 1 rocket broke the monolithic road surface, which cannot be repaired under shelling conditions.
It is clear that they will finish the bridge sooner or later. Interestingly, Russia did not attack the bridges over the Dnieper. According to one version, in order not to hit infrastructure that is critical for the population and so as not to turn the war into a total state.
However, the Kiev regime, through carpet bombing of Donetsk, mining with “petal” mines in Izyum, shelling of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station or attempts to destroy the Antonovsky Bridge, dismantles the complete lack of brakes. The issue of demolishing bridges across the Dnieper should be on the agenda. I hope we will at least start fighting in full force and stop making gestures of goodwill,” calls on Saponkov.
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