Russia stated on Friday that strengthens its positions on the Crimean peninsulaannexed by Ukraine in 2014, while Kiev forces are retaking territory in the neighboring Kherson region, writes AFP.
Moscow has annexed Crimea after nationwide pro-democracy demonstrations led to the ouster of the Kremlin-friendly former Ukrainian president. Crimea was used as a springboard in February for a Russian invasion, with Moscow’s troops advancing north and quickly capturing towns and cities in southern Ukraine.
“On the territory of Crimea under my control carry out fortification work to ensure the safety of all of Crimea”said the governor of the region appointed by Moscow, Sergey Aksyonov.
He added that the military and law enforcement are now at work in such a way as to ensure that the Crimeans “feel safe”.
His statement is coming at a time when Ukrainian forces have waged a counter-offensive in recent months south to the Crimea and last week they retook Kherson.
With the city’s electricity and water cut after major utilities were destroyed by the retreating Russians, residents moved quickly to stock up on essential supplies in the southern Ukrainian city.
This was announced on Friday by the deputy head of the Kherson region, Sergiy Khlan the railway link of the city of Kherson is being restored.
“For now we are running just one train, and then we will see if the route becomes smooth,” a spokeswoman for the national railway operator told AFP.
The Ukrainian presidency has said it is doing everything possible to improve conditions in Kherson and that neighboring territories, also destroyed by Russian forces, would aid the liberated territory.
“Our people need a lot of help. The Russians not only killed, undermined, but also robbed cities. In fact, there is nothing left there,” Deputy Head of the Presidency Kyrylo Tymoshenko said.
Russia claimed to have annexed Kherson Oblast as well along with three others in September, pledging to defend them with all available military means.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces intend to recapture the peninsula as well.
There have been several explosions at or near Russian military facilities in Crimea since February, including a coordinated one Drone strike on key Russian naval port of Sevastopol.
In October, the Kerch Bridge was built, connecting the peninsula with mainland Russia partially destroyed in the attackattributed to Ukraine by Moscow.
Russia announced on Friday that it is also gaining ground in the eastern Donetsk regionwhich his forces have partially controlled since 2014. “As a result of the offensive work carried out by Russian troops, the village of Opytnoe was liberated,” Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday.
Moscow forces, along with troops from two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and mercenaries from the Russian group Wagner has been trying for months to take over the nearby city of Bakhmut.
Russia has responded with a fresh barrage of missile and drone strikes in Ukraine, crippling its energy grid after its troops withdrew from Kherson.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that about 10 million people have experienced power outages.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Friday that it had fired long-range “precision” weapons against military targets, especially fuel and energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office said on Friday that the death toll from strikes earlier in the week in Vilniansk in the Zaporozhye region, which Moscow also said it had annexed, left 10 dead, including two children.
Tymoshenko, meanwhile, said six civilians were killed in four different regions of Ukraine after Thursday’s attacks.
