Ukraine says it has pushed Russian forces back up to five miles (8km) from the Dnipro River after establishing bridgeheads on its eastern bank.
If confirmed, the strategic advance would be one of the most significant in recent months after little gains from either side in the war in Ukraine.
Kyiv says its forces are now battling for control of three Russian-occupied villages south of the river.
A win there would not only be an important military breakthrough but also offer an important morale-boost ahead of winter.
However, Ukrainian officials said its soldiers still had “a lot of work to do” to establish their positions and warned that the bridgehead was fragile.
“Preliminary figures vary from three to eight kilometres, depending on the specifics, geography and landscape design of the left bank,” army spokeswoman Natalia Gumenyuk told Ukrainian television of the territory that its soldiers claimed to have captured.
The Kremlin’s Ministry of Defence corroborated Kyiv’s claims, saying that Ukrainian marines had crossed the Dnipro River roughly 20 miles upstream from Kherson City, but said Russian artillery was now pounding the area.
WarGonzo, a pro-war Russian military Telegram blog with 1.1 million subscribers, said fighting was focused on the villages of Poima, Peschanivka and Krynki.
“The Russian armed forces are trying to retake the Ukrainian bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro,” the channel reported.
Seizing the villages would be an important win for Ukraine as it tries to turn round its largely disappointing counter-offensive and convince western backers their money has not been wasted.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
