Russia might be planning a southern offensive in Ukraine, US think-tank warns

Destroyed turret of the Russian tank in Zalissya, Kyiv oblast, May 2, 2022
Destroyed turret of the Russian tank in Zalissya, Kyiv oblast, May 2, 2022

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The ISW assessment states that while there is no direct evidence of a new Russian offensive in the south, the Kremlin could still be gearing up for an attempt to seize the whole of Kherson Oblast and advance towards Zaporizhzhya.

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According to Kherson regional administration, Russian troops in the region are getting reinforced, including those near Inzhenerne. This could indicate the enemy is planning to advance towards Huliaipole.

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Zaporizhzhya officials said that the occupying regime in Melitopol is preparing to celebrate a 200-year anniversary of the founding of the Russian Imperial Tavriya province, which suggests that Moscow harbors plans to establish pseudo-republics in the occupied areas of southern Ukraine.

At the same time, adviser to the president’s chief of staff Oleksiy Arestovych said that Ukrainian forces had managed to halt the enemy offensive near Huliaipole, making further Russian attempts to advance there unlikely.