In a recent announcement, Russia declared that it successfully thwarted Ukraine's attempts to reach the occupied eastern bank of the southern Kherson region. The Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, asserted that the Ukrainian army suffered "colossal losses" in its failed landing operation in Kherson.

The Ukrainian army had previously claimed to have pushed Russian forces back three to eight kilometers from the banks of the Dnipro River, marking a potential significant advancement after months of stalemate. However, Shoigu's statement contradicted these assertions and painted a different picture of the situation.

According to the Russian Defense Minister, the Ukrainian armed forces were unable to make any significant progress in the Kherson area due to the pre-emptive actions taken by the Russian military. Despite the lack of independent verification from news agencies like AFP, Shoigu emphasized that their military operations had resulted in heavy losses for Ukrainian forces.

Interestingly, there are reports suggesting that some pro-Kremlin military bloggers have contradicted Shoigu's statements, raising doubts about the accuracy of Russia's claims. Additionally, the Russian-installed governor of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, admitted that Ukrainian troops had indeed established positions near the eastern bank village of Krynky. If confirmed, these advancements would represent a substantial breakthrough for Ukraine, potentially creating a land bridge to the annexed Crimean peninsula.

However, several analysts have cautioned against assuming that the territory currently controlled by Ukrainian troops is large enough to be transformed into a substantial breakthrough. They highlight the challenges Ukraine may face in consolidating their control over the area.

As the situation in the Kherson region continues to evolve, it remains crucial to gather more information from multiple reliable sources to understand the true extent of Ukrainian progress and Russian military claims in the area.