Russian forces have been persistently attempting to establish a presence across Ukraine’s Dnipro River, engaging in operations that result in high casualties as they seek to secure territory for potential future peace negotiations, as stated by Oleksandr Prokudin, the Ukrainian governor of the Kherson region. Prokudin indicated that Russian forces are attempting to cross the river at four locations, aiming to validate their claim over the entire oblast, which is one of the four Ukrainian regions that Moscow claims it intends to integrate.
According to Prokudin, who is directly appointed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian troops have been instructed to force their way across the river at any cost, though not all soldiers are willing to undertake such missions. He noted that the casualties among the attackers have been significant, with soldiers being killed or injured almost immediately. Prokudin further disclosed that some of the soldiers are recent recruits, while others have been fighting in Ukraine for over two years.
As of now, Russia has largely controlled the Kherson region, which includes territory on both sides of the Dnipro River. However, they were compelled to withdraw from the west bank, including the city of Kherson, in November 2022 due to difficulties in supplying their forces. Despite this, Russian President Vladimir Putin unilaterally announced the annexation of the entire region, along with three others, declaring that the residents of these areas are “our citizens forever.”
Kherson holds strategic importance as it spans the mouth of the country’s main river. The region’s population has dwindled from approximately 1 million before the war to around 155,000 on the Ukrainian-controlled side, with ongoing drone and artillery attacks causing constant threats in the frontline regions.
While Ukraine has consistently stated that it will not formally surrender territory, the country’s leadership recognizes its limitations in reclaiming significant land through military means. Prokudin believes that Russia is attempting to assert a presence on the right bank of the river to substantiate its claims over the entire region, particularly as various peace negotiations are underway. Last month, the US initiated direct discussions with Russia, sidelining Ukraine to some extent.
The Russian military operations are currently underway in four locations: across the marshy islands at the mouth of the Dnipro, near the Antonivka road and rail bridges east of Kherson city, and in the villages of Lvove and Zmiivka, the latter situated upstream of the destroyed Nova Kakhovka dam.
During his visit to the UK, Prokudin engaged in an economic partnership agreement with Lincolnshire council, as both Kherson and Lincolnshire are primarily agricultural regions. Additionally, Lincolnshire has welcomed 1,000 Ukrainian refugees under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, demonstrating its support for those affected by the conflict.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/04/russia-sending-suicidal-missions-to-win-foothold-over-dnipro-river-says-ukraine
