Ukraine gains ground on east bank of Dnieper River

Ukrainian troops have established a beachhead along the eastern bank of Dnieper River. Pic/AP

A top Ukrainian official said its troops have established a beachhead on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River near Kherson, an important advance in overcoming one of Russia's most significant strategic barriers in the war.

Andriy Yermak, head of the president's office, provided no details but confirmed the development that had been widely discussed in military forums over the past month. "Against all odds, Ukraine's defence forces have gained a foothold on the left bank," he told the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, in a speech Monday.

Ever since Russian forces left the city of Kherson and the territory around it in November 2022, the only area they controlled on the west bank of the Dnieper, the river became a natural dividing line along the southern battlefront, preventing Ukrainian troops from advancing further towards Russian-annexed Crimea.

The barrier also allowed Russia to concentrate more troops in the heavily mined and fortified Zaporizhzhia region and eastern Ukraine. Crossing the river could allow Ukraine to outflank
Russia without having to break through the Zaporizhzhia region and take the most direct land route to Crimea.

David Cameron meets Zelensky

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday. "I admire the strength and determination of the Ukrainian people," he told Zelensky. Cameron said the UK would continue to provide moral and diplomatic support.

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