Ukraine war: Russia acknowledges Kherson is “tense” due to shelling
The situation in the southern city of Kherson is “tough,” according to the commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, and inhabitants must be evacuated.
According to General Sergei Surovikin, Ukrainian forces are attacking the city’s houses and infrastructure using Himars rockets. He spoke on official television in Russia.
The safe evacuation of Kherson’s populace will be the Russian army’s top priority, he declared.
A senior local official echoed his unusual admission of significant issues.
Residents of Kherson were forewarned that Ukrainian military will invade the city “in the very near future” by Russian-installed regional leader Kirill Stremousov.
Ukraine war: Russia acknowledges Kherson is “tense” due to shelling
He posted on the Telegram messaging app, saying, “Please take my words seriously – I’m talking about fleeing as swiftly as possible. The west bank of the River Dnieper, also known as Dnipro in Ukraine, was mentioned as having the greatest risk.
Vladimir Saldo, the region’s governor who was also chosen by Russia, reaffirmed this in a video message.
In February, Kherson became the first significant Russian victory.
Over the past several weeks, Ukrainian soldiers have been methodically retaking surrounding area. They have advanced along the Dnieper as far south as 30 kilometres (19 miles), posing a danger to trap Russian forces.
The general atmosphere in the special military operating zone might be characterised as strained, according to Gen. Surovikin.
The only regional capital of a Ukrainian state that the Russians managed to seize during their invasion was Kherson. Kherson and three other regions of Ukraine are currently claimed by Russia, a claim that has been refuted internationally.
Known for his tough tactics, Gen. Surovikin claimed that Ukraine’s rocket barrage had destroyed the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam and the Antonivsky Bridge in Kherson, preventing traffic from moving via those crucial routes.
According to him, this has led to supply issues for necessities like food deliveries, water, and electricity.
The BBC has been unable to confirm the difficulties the general claimed to have encountered in Kherson.
Additionally, he claimed that the Ukrainians were mounting continuous assaults throughout a broad front, including in the eastern regions of Kupiansk and Lyman as well as in the southern region along the Mykolaiv-Krivyi Rih front.
He has served in Russia’s wars and goes by the moniker General Armageddon. He was in charge of Russian bombing raids in Syria that claimed several civilian lives. He has also led troops in Chechnya that have been accused of violating human rights.
On the day that Gen. Surovikin gave his speech, Russia carried out additional drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, many of which were directed at the country’s energy grid. Now, there is no power or running water in certain areas of Kiev.
According to Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, 30% of the nation’s power plants have been damaged in the previous eight days.
