The crucial battle for Kherson could be settled soon
Clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces near the southern city of Kherson over the next two to three weeks could determine control of the only regional capital Russia has captured since its invasion began in February, according to a responsible for defense.
Elsewhere, battle lines appear to have stabilized in the north near Kharkiv and in central Ukraine as winter approaches, according to the official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. Both sides continue to fire huge amounts of artillery shells, the official said. The Russians fire about 20,000 shells a day, while Ukraine retaliates with up to 7,000.
Ukraine will continue to demand that the United States and its Western allies continue to supply it with artillery guns and ammunition, the official said.
The Russians were unable to destroy any of the approximately 20 extremely useful rocket-assisted artillery systems known as HIMARS. The Pentagon and other allies began supplying Ukraine with truck-mounted weapons over the summer. The Ukrainians used the artillery system, which can hit targets over 40 miles away with precision, to destroy supply depots and command posts.
Latest developments:
►Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on claims by Russian officials based in occupied Donetsk that Ukrainian forces bombarded the regional capital on Monday with HIMARS rocket launchers.
►The Ukrainian presidential office said the Russian strikes in the Zaporizhzhia region targeted a cultural center, farmers’ warehouses and private residences. Three people died and seven were injured.
Britain says Russia is losing planes faster than it can replace them
Russia seems to be losing planes and helicopters faster than he can build them, said the British Ministry of Defense in its latest war report. The assessment cites a claim by Ukraine that Russia lost an estimated 278 aircraft during the war, more than double the number lost during the decade-long Soviet-Afghan war – although the assessment notes that the UK authorities cannot independently verify the figures.
The time needed to train pilots further reduces Russia’s ability to regenerate combat air capability, the assessment says, adding that the two situations are not expected to change in the coming months.
“Russia’s continuing lack of air superiority is likely exacerbated by poor training, the loss of experienced crews, and increased risks of conducting close air support in dense air defense areas,” the assessment said.
4.5 million Ukrainians have no electricity, millions more face blackouts
More than 4.5 million people in Ukraine are without power and millions more face blackouts this week as the war-torn nation rushes to repair energy infrastructure relentlessly pounded by strikes Russian missiles and drones. Power outages in Kyiv, a city of 3 million that now faces some of Ukraine’s most serious power problems, begin at 6 a.m. Low temperatures in Kyiv are expected to drop below freezing next week.
Intentional blackouts are also underway in Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Kharkiv and Poltava regions, state-owned Ukrenergo said on Monday. President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Ukrainians not to expect Russian energy attacks to abate.
“The terrorist state is concentrating its forces and means for a possible repetition of massive attacks against our infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said in an address to his nation. “First, energy.”
Contribute: The Associated Press
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