Half a year into the Russian invasion, Ukraine is launching a counteroffensive. According to Reuters, the offensive is concentrated to southern Ukraine, including the Kherson region:
Ukraine has regularly stated its intention to retake its south, and in particular the city of Kherson, the only regional capital that Russia has been able to capture from Ukraine since it invaded six months ago.
The region of Kherson borders Russian-annexed Crimea. Some of its southern coast abuts the Black Sea; it is a major economic center for the country since much of Ukraine’s ship-driven trade and industry passes through its ports.
In a report on the military offensive, CNN explains that the Ukrainian forces are in the stage of “shaping” operations. These are “standard military practice” before a major operation, according to senior U.S. government officials cited by CNN.
CNN also quotes Natlaia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Operational Command South of the Ukrainian armed forces, confirming that their military
have started the offensive actions in several directions on the South front towards liberating the occupied territories.
Euronews.com quotes an adviser to the Kherson regional governor as mentioning “powerful artillery attacks on enemy positions” in the province.
In an interview with Yahoo News on August 22nd, Natalia Humeniuk (whose name is also spelled Gumenyuk in some news stories) explains that the main goal with a military counteroffensive is not to take back seized territory, but to deplete enemy sources.
