Ukraine stuns Russia with a counter-offensive in Kherson region

The southern city of Kherson, which fell to Russian forces in the first few days of the war, is one of the places Ukraine would need to liberate if Putin’s army is to be repelled. But what realistic chance is there? Many argued that the Russian occupation is a one-way process: that having taken Crimea, Putin would extend his reach northwards and westwards – with the only question being how long Ukraine could hold off an offensive from its far-bigger enemy. 

But that conversation is changing, and fast. This morning, the Ukrainian army broke through the first line of the Russian defence in Kherson region – a move that was only recently seen to be beyond the capability of Ukrainian troops. Senior military officials in Kyiv had been saying that they didn’t have the strength, and other Ukrainian forces were saying that they lack the troops and air cover. All of that now looks like a bluff, ahead of today’s counter-offensive.

The game-changer has been the Himars, high-precision missile launchers supplied by the United States.