Ukrainian forces have put Russia to flight and are poised to smash vital supply lines in their biggest breakthrough on the southern front.
While Kyiv’s counter-offensive has been devastating for President Vladimir Putin ’s troops, the crucial battle for Kherson slowed efforts down until today.
But after routing Russia all along the eastern battleground, Ukrainian fighters have finally burst through defences in the south.
They are now advancing rapidly along the Dnipro River – threatening supply lines for 25,000 invaders.
It came after Putin withdrew his troops from the strategic town of Lyman, occupied since May and a vital logistics hub, to avoid them being encircled.
Kyiv remained relatively quiet about the latest breakthrough – but a tank offensive has blazed dozens of miles past the former frontline, liberating more villages.
Vladimir Saldo, the Kremlin-installed leader in Kherson province, admitted to state TV: “The information is tense, let’s put it that way, because, yes, there were breakthroughs. There’s a settlement called Dudchany, right along the Dnipro River, and there was a breakthrough.”
Dudchany is 20 miles south of where the front stood. Serhiy Khlan, a Kyiv-appointed Kherson official, said: “In the last few days, we have seen the first photo of Osokorivka. We have seen our troops near Mykhailivka. This means our forces are moving powerfully along the Dnipro.”
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said a Russian attack on a NATO ally would not necessarily lead to “all-out war”.
He said there is a “possibility” Putin – still facing protests for drafting civilians to bolster his forces – could launch a strike against Poland. If so, NATO members would be treaty-bound under Article 5 to respond.
But Mr Wallace said: “Article 5 doesn’t necessarily mean all-out war, people sometimes think it means the whole thing, but nevertheless there would be a response to an attack on NATO.”
