'While history might well prove that the events of the past few days were indeed a turning point, this war is far from being over' // foreigncorr1
A FEW months ago I stood on the outskirts of the Ukrainian city Mykolaiv listening to the thud of artillery and rocket fire coming from the direction of nearby Kherson.
Russia’s retreat from Kherson city was the latest in a string of military collapses including its failed attempt to seize Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early in the war, and Ukraine’s lightning rout of Russian forces from the north-east Kharkiv region in September. Kyiv was understandably cautious, wary of being lured into what many feared was a Russian military trap, but by Friday such fears were dismissed as the first Ukrainian soldiers entered the Black Sea port city.
That said, however, the harsh reality for Moscow is that it has lost its only stronghold on the west bank of the Dnipro River, Ukraine’s largest and widest. As analysis from the Russian-English language independent news website Meduza has indicated, Russian troops will now need to be redeployed to more favourable positions which are much easier to supply.
As many battlefield watchers see it, Kherson is a location from which Ukraine can “recalibrate” its counter-offensive. “It gives us firepower control of the roads from Crimea used as supply lines by the Russians … it will be a very big blow to the Russian forces,” Kuzan said. As ever, the Russian leader has gone to ground when bad news about the war needs to be announced. Putting his top military leaders Shoigu and Surovikin, in front of the cameras was a significant move. It thrust them into the spotlight, making it clear who would be held responsible for further failures.
As for responses to news of the Kherson defeat, many prominent Russians have been forthcoming in their concern while not exactly criticising Putin outright. Meanwhile, pro-Kremlin journalist and politician Andrey Medvedev said on Telegram: “What now to say about Kherson? Yes, I’m not happy either, like many of you. Yes, I also thought that there would be a different solution. That a fortified area would be made from the city.
Some assessments, though, of Putin’s position in the wake of the Kherson defeat say it would be wrong to view it as a political Achilles heel.
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