Kherson is one of the greatest achievements that the Russian army achieved, but just now, the Russian army announced its withdrew from the area.
The Russia-Ukraine war started on 24th February 2022. Until recently (2022.12), this war has continued for about 10 months.
On 17th February 2022, the situation in the east part of Ukraine got worse; the Ukraine government and east Ukraine civilian armed forces accused each other for stated shelling.
On 24th February 2022, the Ukraine management office announced to close off the territorial air space. The capital’s metro became free to use. The president mentioned that the whole of Ukraine entered the war condition.
Just in November, unexpected News came from the front line: the Russian army began the troop from the Kherson state.
Kherson is also called Cherson. It lies on the right bank of the lower Dnieper river, about 15 miles from the river’s mouth. Kherson is named after the ancient settlement of Chersonesus, and it was founded in 1778 as a fortress to protect the newly acquired Black Sea frontage of Russia. Now, it became the first major city to fall to Russian forces.
A close examination of the map reveals that Kherson is very close to Russia, so the Russian army can easily invade the area. Because Kherson was not difficult for the Russian army to go to, Kherson became the first city to be occupied by the Russian army. In Kherson, it has a canal to keep the supply of drinking water of Crimea, and it only has a distance of 100 kilometers to the Crimea. After Russia invaded Ukraine and robbed Crimea, Russia built a military airport and set up a military camp in Crimea. Because Russia put much of its military in Crimea, it needs many supplies. One of the most important resources is clean drinking water.
Also, Kherson is a major port city, which means controlling this city allows Russia to control the shipping channel. When the shipping channel is occupied by the Russian army, its warship can pass without limits. When Russia’s warships move with no restrictions, those warships can support other Russian armies by using missiles. Furthermore, many emergency supplies can give to Ukraine by the Kherson because it has a canal. To cut the supplies from other countries, the Russian military has to occupy and control the Kherson.
Then, The Russian army moved from the north of the Crimean peninsula and rapidly took the city of Kherson in just seven days. Kherson city is the first big city and state capital controlled by the Russian army in Ukraine. This not only boosts the morale of the Russian army but also greatly affects the perception and assessment of the conflict to other countries. Also, the Russian army quickly captured most of the southern regions of Ukraine, such as Kherson province, ensuring that the Russian army could concentrate Its firepower and attack on the Donbas instead of making the Russian army too dispersed.
From the military perspective, if the Russian army can keep this “ bridgehead” in the southern part of Ukraine and rely on it, it can make the Russian military’s attack easier. For instance, Kherson can be the base and springboard to attack Nikolayev, Odessa, and other places. According to the U.S. war research institute, the Russian army continues to maintain a military presence in the Kherson region. It is convenient for the Russian army to use short-range combat equipment such as artillery and drones to attack most of the Black Sea coast of Ukraine without using expensive long-range attack capabilities.
The Kherson region is also a land that cannot be lost for Ukraine. Since the Russian army occupied the Kherson area in February this year, the Russian army has been defending and defending the Kherson. The Ukraine army also took this opportunity to constantly attack and harass the Russian military. Even in the first half of the year, when Russia and Ukraine launched fierce battles around many cities in Donbas, the Ukraine army continued to launch “HIMARS” in the Kherson area, continuing to consume Russian troops. After continuing to receive military assistance from the United States and West Countries, the Ukraine army began to use the “HIMARS” to accurately attack important bridges on the Dnieper River, seriously weakening the Russian army’s supply capacity.
Now, as a fact, the Russia army has left Kherson. What led to this surprising strategic movement?
It is argued that this signifies the reality that Russia has failed in politics, public opinion, and the military.
For the Ukraine army, Kherson is not a new achievement. As early as late September, the Russian supply line on the right bank of the Dnieper River was severely damaged, and the city of Kherson was also covered by the Ukrainian heavy firepower. When the Ukraine army counterattacked in the direction of Kharkov and Lyman. Many people think that the southern front was just a fake attack, but in fact, the Ukraine army has really attacked, like it has two fists. The troops on the southern front also have the ability to launch an offensive. In the southern part of Ukraine, the Russian military has lost control of space and the sea, and its suppliers cannot arrive. So, the Ukraine army in Kherson can defeat the Russian army. In consequence, the Russian army’s retreat is humiliating.
What’s more, it is deeply related to Russian president Putin’s political battle. The reason why Kherson’s Russian army is still insisted is that this is the only place that can be called an achievement since the Russian-Ukraine war. The eastern part has just basically returned to the situation before the war, and the southern part has already lost. There is undoubtedly a huge drop in the morale of the Russian army. The seized territory continues to shrink. Those would have a big impact on the legitimacy and authority of Putin’s regime. Furthermore, there is a more embarrassing situation. Kherson is publicly voting to join the Russian Federation, which is equal to Russian legally recognized territory. The withdrawal of the Russian army from Kherson was equal to the Ukraine army’s invasion of Russia and the occupation of Russian territory.
Lastly, Putin and the Russian army are becoming less confident, and they are tired now. Social fragmentation is becoming more serious. While Ukraine has always maintained high morale, and Ukraine now thinks that it can win the Russian-Ukraine war. This is a huge change between offensive and defensive. And this also reveals Russia’s failure.