Threat to Kherson: Ukraine Army comments on reports of Russian offensive preparations

This was stated on national television by Vladyslav Voloshyn, the spokesman for Defense Forces South, who had been asked to comment on the latest reports that Russia allegedly massed up nearly 300 boats, preparing to an attempt to cross the Dnipro, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The Defense Forces South Command also has all the information, but we are ready for any developments And I’ll say this: 300 boats... well, that’s just 300 boats. You can't say this is some kind of serious threat," he said.

Voloshyn noted that in order to go on an offensive, the Russians would need to transport combat equipment, for which they need to set up crossings, or to have some appropriate watercraft larger than boats.

"As for these 300 boats... Well, say, each will carry five soldiers. How will they cross? You see, a few artillery rounds, and that'll be it for them," the spokesman said.

He confirmed that the Ukrainian military currently retains fire control over this particular section of the front.

According to the spokesperson, several assault operations are recorded in the Prydniprovia axis every day.

"The enemy is trying to seize control, or at least get a hold of the area of ​​islands at the mouth of the Dnipro. Every day there are about five to seven assaults, and none of them are successful, they result in casualties, equipment loss, and no gains for the enemy... Those are more like reconnaissance operations, because these assaults involve small infantry groups, five to seven-strong. So they yield no effect, no result," Voloshyn said.

The spokesman explained: that both the enemy and Ukrainian military are aware that the shore is well-equipped in terms of fortifications and densely mined.

"To conduct such a complex operation as crossing a water obstacle, even more so such as the Dnipro, is very, very difficult. This requires extensive preparation, which is very difficult to hide given modern means of intelligence," he stressed.

As reported, on December 4, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, stated that the Russian army plans to launch another offensive on Kherson and has already amassed 300 boats to force the Dnipro.