Russia is preparing an offensive in southern Ukraine

Vladislav Voloshyn said this on TV.

The situation in the south remains difficult, but the Southern Defense Forces are controlling it. Over the past day, there have not been many combat clashes in the Zaporizhia directions, in particular, Hulyaipil and Orikhiv, but the enemy has carried out air strikes, artillery shelling, and has also frequently used kamikaze drone strikes.

Vladyslav Voloshyn

Spokesperson of the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine

In addition, in another southern direction — the Kherson, or Dnieper, direction — the enemy also once unsuccessfully tried to storm our positions and carried out artillery shelling of Kherson itself and the territorial communities adjacent to the right bank, and also used kamikaze drones.

According to him, the enemy is currently regrouping forces and assets, conducting reconnaissance activities, and providing logistical support.

Everything indicates that soon — in a few days — he will begin intensifying assault operations again.

Commenting on the situation on the islands, Voloshyn noted that it is quite difficult, as the enemy is trying to force their way in unnoticed by the Defense Forces.

The situation on the islands is really quite difficult now, because the enemy, taking advantage of the fact that the system of these islands is very extensive and large, is trying to imperceptibly force its way across to one of the islands — and this is particularly true in the southern part of this island zone, the islands of Kozulysky, Nestryga, Bugas, and Zabych — and is trying to seize a certain bridgehead there. However, we are not letting him in, we are destroying him, and even all his smallest attempts are unsuccessful.

He also noted that the Russians, as before, are still trying to approach the Antonivske bridges, where the narrowest point of the crossing across the Dnieper is, but the Ukrainian Defense Forces are not allowing them to approach.

According to the spokesman, the enemy, as well as the Defense Forces, is mining the approaches to the coast of the temporarily occupied part of southern Ukraine, fearing that the Ukrainian defenders will seize the bridgehead.

Unfortunately, the Russians are very afraid that the Ukrainian Defense Forces will carry out such an operation, which was a year and a half ago in Krynki, and will also take a bridgehead, seize a bridgehead on the left bank. Therefore, the occupiers are conducting engineering equipment of these places in several areas where they concentrate their forces and means. They have strengthened measures on how to defend and protect these places. In addition, they constantly conduct, say, such trainings and exercises on repelling our crossing.

He added that the enemy strengthened its garrison on the Kinburn and Tendri spits a few days ago, transferring artillery and anti-tank weapons there, as it fears that the Defense Forces will force through and capture this bridgehead.