This week Vladimir Putin (70) suffered another defeat in the Ukraine war as his soldiers withdrew from the strategically important port city of Kherson after fighting the Ukrainians. Russian army chief Sergei Surovikin, 56, said on Wednesday that the withdrawal was being carried out to “preserve the lives of our soldiers and the combat capacity of the troop group”.
For the Ukrainian armed forces, the withdrawal is a double success. Because with the capture of Kherson, new avenues of attack opened up for them. There is now a land bridge near the front, several logistics locations and ammunition depots for the Russians, “Newsweek” reports.
«Firepower control over the streets»
This infrastructure, which is part of the main supply network for the Russians in Ukraine, has been within reach of Ukrainian weapons since the recapture of Kherson. Especially modern weapons supplied by the West could now hit Russian targets. For example, the state-of-the-art Himar missile system from the US.
It remains to be seen whether the Ukrainians will dare launch such an attack. Sergii Kuzan, 38, adviser to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, said after the capture that they now had “firepower control over the roads” that “the Russians use as supply routes”.
Apparently the Americans would also approve of a similar attack. Shortly after Kherson’s recapture, the Pentagon announced new arms sales to Ukraine worth $400 million. In addition to grenade launchers and wheeled vehicles, the Ukrainians are also receiving Himar ammunition, which they would likely need in an attack on the Russian supply network.
US pledges aid ‘as long as needed’
But the Pentagon is not talking about ammunition for an attack. The Americans stated simply: “In light of Russia’s relentless and relentless air strikes on critical Ukrainian infrastructure, additional air defense capabilities are critical.” This probably referred to Hawk anti-aircraft missiles, which are also included in the latest weapons package.
Since the start of the war, the US has already given Ukraine $19.3 billion in security aid. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (60) only assured on Saturday that the US would continue its aid “as long as necessary”. (obf)