Ukraine’s troops have begun the offensive in the direction of [the village] Nova Kamyanka — [the city of] Beryslav in the Kherson region at 12:20PM (GMT+3), deputy head of the occupation “government” of the region Kirill Stremousov says.
After an artillery barrage, up to two infantry battalions of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade and a tank battalion of the 17th Brigade advanced, he adds. “A big number of enemy’s medium-range UAVs and a reconnaissance Bayraktar were noted,” he writes in a Telegram post. According to Stremousov, the Turkish unmanned vehicle is located at a distance, “without entering the air defence zone”.
The entry to the Kherson region from the left bank of the Dnipro river is closed for civilians for seven days, he notes.
Earlier today, Russia-appointed “authorities” of the occupied Kherson region of Ukraine began the evacuation of the Kherson city residents to the other bank of the Dnipro river. “Acting governor” of the Kherson region Volodymyr Saldo said that the “authorities” were planning to transport 50,000-60,000 residents of Kherson to the left bank of the Dnipro river. The residents of the city were sent a text message asking them to urgently evacuate due to the threats of shelling.
Yesterday, 18 October, Stremousov said that “very soon, a battle for Kherson will begin”. On 15 October, he announced that Ukraine’s Armed Forces had started an offensive in the direction of Kherson. He recommended the civilians leave for Russian territories “in order to avoid casualties”.
