Olga Malcheva | AFP | Getty Images Russian units in and around Kherson — a southern Ukrainian city currently held by Russian forces and one that Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive to retake — are likely to be underpowered and lacking cohesion, according to with the latest information from the UK “The 49th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District (SMD) has very likely been reinforced with elements of the 35th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District (EMD). Most [Russian] “Units around Kherson are probably undermanned and dependent on fragile supply lines with ferry bridges and drawbridges on the Dnipro,” Britain’s Ministry of Defense said on Twitter on Tuesday. The ministry said the integration of the SMD and EMD units “suggests a significant reorganization of Russian power in Ukraine.” The ministry added that “there is a realistic possibility that Russia has moved to streamline the many, semi-independent, operational commands that contributed to its poor performance at the start of the invasion” and that if Ukraine succeeds in undertaking sustained offensive operations towards of Kherson, “the cohesion of this untested structure will likely be a key factor in the viability of Russian defenses in the south.” — Holly Elliott

“We will chase them to the border,” says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed confidence that Ukrainian forces will push Russian occupation forces back to the pre-2014 border after launching a counter-offensive in southern Ukraine earlier this week. “The occupiers must know: we will chase them to the border. On our border, which line has not changed,” Zelensky said in his nightly video speech on Monday. “If they want to survive – it’s time for the Russian army to run away… If they don’t listen to me – they will have to face our defenders, who will not stop until they liberate everything that belongs to Ukraine,” he said. added. Soldier Volodimyr stationed on the front line at an unknown location in the Mykolaiv region. Ukrainian forces launched a counterattack in the southern regions, including around Mykolayiv, which is strategically located near the Black Sea. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Ukraine has appeared to increase its confidence in recent weeks by targeting Russian-held territory in southern Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Kiev officials have said they will now fight to retake the peninsula, which it is home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, as well as the city of Kherson, which fell to Russian forces at the start of the war. “Does anyone want to know what our plans are? You won’t hear details from any really responsible person. Because this is war. And that’s how it goes to war,” Zelensky said. A spokesman for Ukraine’s southern military command told NBC News on Monday that Russian troops are withdrawing from some areas in the country’s south already as a counteroffensive begins, though some experts have expressed caution, saying it is too soon to start pulling out conclusions from Ukraine’s counterattack. . — Holly Elliott

Ukraine claims that the Russians are retreating from some positions in the south

A spokesman for Ukraine’s southern military command told NBC News that Russian troops are withdrawing from some areas in the country’s south, where Kyiv claims it launched a counterattack against Russian troops. Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for the southern military command, said in a telephone interview that “under the pressure of our actions, the enemy began to retreat. At this time it is recorded that the enemy has withdrawn from some of his positions,” NBC News reported. . . NBC News was unable to verify the spokesman’s claims, and both Humeniuk and outside observers expressed caution about jumping to conclusions. The British Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday morning local time that Ukraine had increased artillery fire along the front in southern Ukraine since August 29, but “it is not yet possible to confirm the extent of the Ukrainian advance”. Neil Melvin, director of international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told NBC News that early reports indicated “that Ukrainian forces have penetrated the first set of Russian defense forces in places around Kherson.” — Ted Kemp

Putin is using Zaporizhia to hold Ukraine’s energy supply hostage, White House says

A Russian military man patrols the grounds of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Energodar on May 1, 2022. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, seized by Russian forces in March, is located in southeastern Ukraine and is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and among the 10 largest in the world . Andrey Borodulin | Afp | Getty Images The Biden administration welcomed news that the International Atomic Energy Agency will soon inspect the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. The White House has also argued that Russia is using control of the facility to compromise Ukraine’s energy supplies. “That would require knowing exactly what’s on his mind, and that’s difficult for us to ascertain on any given day, particularly on any issue related to Ukraine,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on a conference call when asked for Russian President Vladimir. Putin’s intentions. “What we can piece together, based on their activities and their actions, is that at least we find that by holding this plant, they can hold Ukraine hostage in terms of their own electricity capacity,” Kirby said. “The Zaporizhzhia NPP basically controls all the electricity for much of southern Ukraine and even beyond, so it can hold it hostage. It could actually use some of that power inside Russia if wanted,” said Kirby. added. — Amanda Macias

Nearly 7 million Ukrainians have become refugees from Russia’s war

Nearly 7 million Ukrainians have become refugees and moved to neighboring countries since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, the UN refugee agency estimates. More than 3.9 million of these people have applied for temporary residence status in neighboring Western countries, according to data compiled by the UN Refugee Agency. “The escalation of the conflict in Ukraine has caused civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure, forcing people to flee their homes in search of safety, protection and assistance,” the agency wrote. — Amanda Macias

IAEA inspectors to begin work on Zaporizhia nuclear power plant ‘in coming days’

A soldier with a Russian flag on his uniform stands guard near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during the Ukraine-Russia conflict outside the Russian-controlled town of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, August 4, 2022. Alexander Ermochenko Reuters Ukraine’s foreign ministry said inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were expected to arrive in Kyiv today and would begin work at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant “in the coming days.” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi will lead the team of 14 international experts, the ministry said. “Ukraine’s position is clear: the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant by Russian troops and the introduction of a large amount of military equipment and ammunition into its territory in violation of all international norms exposes the nuclear plant to extreme danger, including nuclear provocation. incident,” the ministry wrote in a statement, according to a translation by NBC News. — Amanda Macias

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