The Russian supreme commander is not very optimistic about the situation in Ukraine. This is currently "tense" - especially in the area around the city of Cherson, "difficult decisions" could be imminent. There, Ukrainian troops would continue their attacks incessantly.
The new commander of the Russian forces in Ukraine, Sergey Surovikin, has described the situation in Ukraine as "tense". This applies in particular to the region around the city of Cherson, he says, according to the broadcaster Rossiya 24. "The situation in the area of military special operations can be described as tense," said Surovikin. "The enemy does not give up their attempts to attack the positions of Russian troops."
Further action around Cherson depends on the current military and tactical situation, said Surovikin. Difficult decisions could not be ruled out. Surovikin spoke of "the area of special military operations," the government's term for the war in Ukraine.
Surovikin has only been responsible for the deployment of Russian troops in Ukraine for ten days. He is considered more capable, but also one of the toughest and most ruthless generals in Russia. In Syria, under his leadership, most of the country had previously been reconquered for President Bashar al-Assad, who was loyal to Moscow. He is also known as "General Armageddon".
The Russian army is currently preparing to evacuate civilians from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, Surovikin said. The administrator of the Kherson region appointed by Russia there also announces the evacuation of some civilians. In a video, Vladimir Saldo spoke of the danger of a Ukrainian attack. Residents of four Dnipro towns should be moved away from the river because Ukrainian shelling could damage a nearby dam, Saldo said.
The Cherson region in southern Ukraine, which was annexed by Russia at the end of September, has been the target of a counter-offensive by the Ukrainian army for several weeks. In the meantime, this was able to record larger gains in terrain. In recent weeks, Ukraine has systematically cut off possible Russian retreat routes across the river with long-distance artillery fire.
