Russia moving military, civilian administrations out of Ukrainian artillery range in Kherson Oblast
UK intelligence spoke about the further actions of Russian troops after the retreat from Kherson (Photo:REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)
Russia has made the Azov Sea port town Henichesk its "temporary capital” of the occupied part of Kherson Oblast, and a military command and control center is likely to be relocated there as well, reads the latest UK intelligence update on the war in Ukraine as of Nov. 15.
Most likely, Russia completed the withdrawal of its troops from the positions on the right (western) bank of the Dnipro River before Nov. 12, the update reads.
UK Defence Intelligence speculates that the choice of Henichesk will allow the Russian army to consolidate its defenses in the south of Ukraine.
The location of the town is well suited to coordinating actions against potential Ukrainian threats from Kherson in the west and Melitopol in the north-east, UK intelligence said. It is also easier to receive reinforcements from Russia through the annexed Crimea peninsula, it said.
Henichesk is out of range of Ukrainian artillery for the time being. This is especially important for the Russian army, as its field command posts have previously been heavily damaged by Ukraine’s HIMARS precision rocket artillery.
On Nov. 11, the Russian army reported the completion of withdrawal from the western bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast.
It was forced to do so to maintain a "combat-ready" army amid a successful counter-offensive by Ukrainian forces in the south of the country.
The same day, Ukrainian troops entered the city of Kherson – to a joyful welcome by crowds of people.
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