Going by western media, Russian forces are either withdrawing from Kherson or redeploying to better positions in anticipation of an escalation of activity on the Kherson front.

Even RIA Novosti, part of Russia’s state media, indicates that increased activity around Kherson is likely to happen soon.

As Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the regional administration, reported on the eve, clashes on this part of the front could intensify in the next one and a half to two weeks. At the same time, while all attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to break through the defense line fail, Ukrainian troops continue to suffer heavy losses.

Intriguingly, in a separate reporting RIA Novosti highlighted Russia’s ability to blockade the land routes from Ukraine into the Crimean peninsula.

It is emphasized that the peninsula is connected to the mainland by a heavily defended strip of land, and the Russian army can easily carry out engineering work that can block the land campaign.

This is an undeniable reality, as the Crimean Peninsula is connected to Ukraine proper by a relatively narrow strip of land that has only two major roads running through it, as a quick review of Google Maps illustrates.

However, blocking off Crimea from Ukraine would also be tantamount to blocking Ukraine off from Crimea. For Russian media to carry even speculation about such a step arguably indicates that Russia does not expect to hold Kherson.

Judging by the media on both sides, things are nearing a climax on the Kherson front. Ukraine’s final assault on Kherson might not happen tomorrow, but it appears increasingly likely that it will happen “soon”.

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