Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

bluewater

(5,376 posts)
Thu Mar 3, 2022, 12:13 PM Mar 2022

Russia captures major southern city and surrounds another



The Black Sea port of Kherson, in the southern region of Ukraine, became the first major city to come under full control of Russian forces on Wednesday.

“There is no Ukrainian army here,” said Igor Kolykhaev, the city’s mayor. “The city is surrounded.”

Russian troops first approached the city on Friday and met heavy resistance. On Saturday, they destroyed a dam in the region that Ukraine had built in 2014 in order to cut off an important water source to Crimea.

Ukrainian forces retreated west toward Mykolaiv, Mr. Kolykhaev said. Russian forces are likely to head there in their drive to Odessa.

Gennady Trukhanov, the mayor of Odessa, backed by assessments from Ukraine’s military, said on Wednesday that Russia’s goal was likely to surround Odessa with land and naval forces, cutting off Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea and the country’s primary link to the global economy.

“My sense is that they will encircle Odessa and hold that position while they continue their assault on Kyiv,” Mr. Trukhanov said.

About 260 miles to the east of Kherson, Russian forces also have surrounded the port city of Mariupol by land and sea, and have been bombarding critical infrastructure and civilian targets, according to the Institute for the Study of War. Capturing Mariupol would allow Russian forces in the south to join with Russian-backed separatists in the east, isolating Ukrainian troops in the region.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/world/europe/ukraine-maps.html


The Russians seem to be surrounding and blockading the major Ukrainian cities and picking them off one by one.

The US and NATO need to drastically change the military balance in Ukraine to stop this piecemeal Russian take over.
Brave Ukrainian resistance can only hold off the Russians for so long with hand-held weapons, no matter how advanced.

Please contact your Senators and Congress members and the White House to express your concern and support for our ally, democratic Ukraine.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Russia captures major sou...