Ukraine can free Kherson until mid -November during a counterattack in the south of the country, writes Financial Times with reference to military officials and analysts.
According to the representative of the US Ministry of Defense, now the Armed Forces of Ukraine have advanced northeast of the city and occupy a bridgehead on the Dnieper River. Also, Ukrainian forces are running out of the Russian group on the right bank from the north, but are moving in this direction more slowly.
The success of the Ukrainian army in a counterattack at once on two fronts, achieved in recent days, can be used as an additional impetus to push the Russian forces from the strategic regions of the south. “If you take control of Kherson, you can prevent the Russian army from reaching Odessa, where, I think, the Russians are actually striving,” said a senior representative of the US Army.
However, Ukraine has not much time left for this: the last three years the land in the region has not freezed, which is why the area will become viscous and dirty by winter, it will be extremely difficult for the troops to maneuver and defend themselves. Such conditions will be on the hands of the defending side, officials say. “Ukraine needs to do something with Kherson, and in the near future,” the Western diplomat confirms. According to him, the latest successes of Ukrainian forces raise the morale of the military and ordinary Ukrainians. But, despite the low moral spirit of Russians, Moscow strengthened its position in the south, which complicates the Ukrainian offensive.
“Russians needed a lot of effort and a lot of time to dug a little differently than in the East,” said NATO representative. According to him, Ukrainians will need “overwhelming power to penetrate there.” On the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be that Russian forces will grow problems with the material and technical support necessary for the delivery of goods in anticipation of winter.
to win the territories in the south, according to the interlocutors of FT, it is necessary to strengthen the position of Ukraine in negotiations if they begin. According to a member of the House of Representatives of Brad Sherman, the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine is possible in six to eight months, and before that Ukraine needs to regain more territories.