Russia Trying to Downplay 'Frightening' Kherson Situation

Moscow is "struggling" to contain Russian fears about the deteriorating military situation on the Kherson front in southern Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), as Kyiv's forces cement and expand several footholds on the east bank of the Dnieper River—called the Dnipro in Ukrainian—with Russian forces so far unable to dislodge them.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Tuesday addressed the Russian Defense Ministry Collegium, telling attendees that Moscow's troops along the east bank of the Dnieper had defeated all Ukrainian "amphibious operations in the Kherson direction," inflicting "colossal" losses on Ukrainian forces in the area.

But Shoigu's reports do not match with news from the front. Russian milbloggers have for several weeks been reporting a worsening situation along the lower reaches of the Dnieper, where combat has largely been confined to small cross-river raids, artillery duels and drone strikes since the Ukrainian liberation of Kherson a year ago.

The emergence of stubborn Ukrainian bridgeheads in the east-bank villages of Krynky, Pishchanivka and Poyma raises the prospect of a newly active front line; one less than 50 miles from the narrow approaches into occupied Crimea and close to at least one vital highway.

In its Tuesday evening war update, the ISW suggested that Shoigu's remarks were "likely an attempt to downplay some Russian milbloggers' concerns over Russia's inability to decisively repel Ukrainian attacks on the east bank of the Dnipro River but is unlikely to calm the ever-growing complaints in the Russian information space."

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry by email to request comment.

Ivan Stupak—a former officer in the Security Service of Ukraine and now an adviser to the Ukrainian parliament's national security, defense and intelligence committee—told Newsweek there are some 300 Ukrainian troops operating on the east bank, most of them Marines.

"I'm very sure that this operation could potentially be successful," Stupak said. "At least a couple of pieces of heavy equipment have also been transferred to the left bank."

These include German-made mobile bridges to facilitate waterway crossings.

The ultimate goal for Kyiv, Stupak said, might be the Black Sea port of Skadovsk, the occupation of which could cut off Russian forces defending the Kinburn Spit and put Crimea under "fire control" of Kyiv's U.S.-made HIMARS.

One video—purportedly filmed by a member of a Russian Marine infantry unit operating in Krynky and containing strong language—shed some light on the difficult situation facing Moscow's forces on the east bank.

"It's sad," the marine said, per a translated post to X—formerly known as Twitter—by the War Translated account. "No idea what the commanders are doing."

The unidentified marine recalled a recent conversation with a soldier in the area, who said: "They put together all the crooked, blind, broken and sent them towards Ukrainians."

"He said the Ukrainians have three drones for each one of ours," the marine added. "This is very bad and very sad."

Referring to a recent Ukrainian video of an operation that reportedly killed 13 Russian troops—a whole assault group—in Krynky, the marine said: "It was frightening to watch. A shame. It rips your soul apart.

"You're so angry at this army. It's not a Russian army…Nothing is clear, and it's all bad."