Ukraine Launches Kherson Recovery Operation... Flustered Russia Deploys S-300 to Crimean Peninsula

Russian Defense Ministry "Repelled All Ukrainian Offensives"
Urgently Retrieving S-300 Systems Previously Supplied to Syria
Prolonged Conflict May Complicate US Ammunition Support

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Ukraine has announced the launch of a large-scale counteroffensive aimed at reclaiming southern regions including Kherson. Although Russian forces claimed to have repelled the Ukrainian counterattack, they appear considerably unsettled by Ukraine’s offensive, as evidenced by their urgent retrieval of the S-300 air defense systems previously supplied to Syria and redeployment to the Crimean Peninsula.

Some analysts suggest that the Russian military’s defensive preparations have been less thorough than expected, increasing the likelihood of a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive. Should Ukraine succeed in recapturing the Kherson area, which connects the Crimean Peninsula and the Donbas region, the war’s dynamics could shift significantly in Ukraine’s favor.

On the 29th (local time), Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Southern Command, stated in a press briefing, “Today, we launched offensives on multiple fronts, including the Kherson region. Attacks targeting Russian military supply routes in southern Ukraine have undoubtedly weakened the enemy. Last week alone, more than ten Russian ammunition depots were struck.”

Ukraine has not disclosed specific details of the counteroffensive plans, citing military confidentiality. However, it is expected that operations to reclaim Kherson Oblast, situated between the Donbas and Crimea regions, will continue.

According to The New York Times (NYT), over the past two months, Ukrainian forces have focused on destroying bridges and railways around Kherson city, the capital of Kherson Oblast, to cut off supply lines. Ground attacks have also commenced in earnest, reportedly breaching the first line of Russian defense.

Conversely, Russia claims to have repelled all Ukrainian offensives and declared the counteroffensive a failure. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated, “Ukrainian forces attacked the Kherson and Mykolaiv areas, but due to our active defense, they suffered heavy losses and retreated. The Ukrainian military lost 560 personnel, 26 tanks, 9 armored vehicles, and 2 fighter jets.”

However, the revelation that Russia urgently transported the S-300 air defense systems, previously deployed in Syria, to Crimea has raised suspicions that Russian forces may have suffered significant damage from Ukraine’s counterattack. The situation appears to have deteriorated to the extent that Russia is recalling air defense systems it had provided to Syria to bolster its defenses.

According to CNN, Israeli satellite intelligence company ImageSat International reported that satellite surveillance revealed the recent withdrawal of S-300 air defense systems from Syria and their rapid deployment to Crimea. The S-300 units were loaded onto a cargo ship on the 27th and passed through the Bosporus Strait in Turkey en route to Crimea.

There is analysis suggesting that if Russia fails to effectively block Ukraine’s counteroffensive, the course of the war could change dramatically. Politico cited anonymous U.S. Department of Defense officials stating, “Over the past two months, Ukrainian forces have systematically targeted logistics warehouses, command posts, and airfields to prepare for the counteroffensive, significantly weakening Kherson’s defenses. There is a strong possibility that Ukraine will reclaim large swaths of territory previously occupied by Russia.”

However, if Ukrainian forces fail to break through Russian defenses in the short term, there is also concern that Ukraine could face ammunition shortages. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), worries about ammunition shortages due to U.S. military support for Ukraine are growing. Even if new shells and weapons are ordered, production takes 13 to 18 months, potentially causing disruptions in arms supply.

In particular, stocks of 155mm howitzer shells, of which over 800,000 rounds have been supplied so far, are reportedly becoming critically low even within the U.S. military. A U.S. Department of Defense official told WSJ, “The inventory of 155mm howitzer shells is alarmingly low.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.