Ukraine Evacuates Civilians as Kherson Faces Renewed Attacks

Authorities in Ukraine have commenced the evacuation of civilians from the Korabel district of Kherson city following significant damage to the sole bridge connecting the area to the rest of the city. The bridge was severely impacted by Russian attacks last week, compelling local officials to prioritize the safety of residents.

According to Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of the Kherson regional administration, around 600 individuals remain in Korabel, down from 1,800 who lived there prior to the strikes. “At least 200 people will be evacuated today. The Russians continue to attack the bridge and surrounding areas during the evacuation,” he stated on Friday.

Evacuation Amid Ongoing Threats

The remaining residents face dire conditions, lacking access to gas, electricity, shops, and public transportation. The assault on the bridge has sparked concerns that Russian forces may be planning to retake Kherson. Russia initially captured the city, which has a population of approximately 300,000, during the early days of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Although Ukrainian forces successfully reclaimed the city later that year, the challenges of maintaining control over the area remain significant.

Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at the Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies, remarked, “An attempt to land troops in the Korabel area after the bridge was destroyed looks like suicide. It will be difficult to expand the bridgehead and hold it.” He emphasized that the Dnipro River serves as a formidable barrier, complicating any potential Russian troop movements.

Despite the damage to the bridge, Colonel Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern army command, asserted that it would not significantly impair the Ukrainian military’s ability to defend Kherson. “The Dnipro delta is under the control of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. To reach the Korabel district, Russian forces would need to navigate several islands, straits, and the main river before landing on the shore,” he explained. Voloshyn added that Ukrainian forces have successfully thwarted prior Russian attempts to seize islands within the Dnipro River.

Russian Military Movements and Ongoing Aggression

Recent reports indicate that Russian forces in the region have regrouped. “They are everywhere, trying to land troops almost on every island,” Voloshyn noted. However, he insisted, “We detect those who try and strike and drown them in the river.”

Despite the evident challenges, Bielieskov warned that the Russian military may face pressure from the Kremlin to execute a notable offensive to regain lost ground in Kherson. The city, now home to around 65,000 residents, has been under sustained artillery fire and drone assaults from the left bank of the Dnipro. These attacks have targeted civilian areas, creating a humanitarian crisis.

The loss of Kherson represented a significant setback for Vladimir Putin, as it was the only regional capital captured by Russian forces in 2022. The Kremlin has since illegally annexed five Ukrainian regions, including Kherson, which remains a focal point of Russian military ambitions. “What’s happening now in Kherson is both a tactic to destroy civilians and revenge,” Tolokonnikov remarked. He further stated that “only yesterday, they used nine glide bombs against Kherson’s residential areas.”

In a troubling escalation, Voloshyn reported an increase in drone attacks against the city, with daily assaults rising from 200-220 to 300. Local authorities are now implementing measures to protect key infrastructure with anti-drone nets, as the situation continues to evolve.