Russia planning Kherson landing? Bridge hit, but Ukraine doubts threat

What the Defense Forces said

According to Voloshyn, statements about a possible enemy landing in the Koraabelnyi district are unrealistic from a military point of view. Before reaching this area, Russian forces would have to cross several water channels and islands.

In addition, the Ukrainian army is actively working to detect and destroy any enemy assault or crossing groups.

"To reach our shore, the enemy needs time. And we use that time to detect and destroy the enemy on approach," he noted.

Regarding the possibility of an airborne landing, Voloshyn pointed out that enemy helicopters would be immediately detected and destroyed. He recalled how a similar attempt by the Russians ended in Hostomel at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

At the same time, the spokesperson acknowledged that the situation in the area remains tense. Over the past day, Russian forces carried out 280 kamikaze drone attacks, 9 airstrikes using guided bombs (KABs) on Kherson, and deployed munition drones such as Molniya, Lancet, and Pryvet-82.

Clashes also continued on the islands in the Dnipro delta — in particular, on Bilohorodivskyi and Velykyi Vilkhovyi islands. Intense fighting is also taking place near the Antonivskyi bridges.

As Voloshyn emphasized, the enemy is shelling Kherson, especially the Koraabelnyi district, with artillery and guided aerial bombs, and enemy drones are constantly active.

For this reason, after the enemy strike on the island road bridge, local authorities are evacuating the remaining civilian population from the Koraabelnyi district.

What CNN writes

For several consecutive days, Russian forces have been striking the bridge to the Korabel (Island) district in Kherson, which connects the mainland city with the island. Against this backdrop, rumors emerged about a possible preparation for a troop landing.

CNN also published an article stating that the capture of Kherson and the region — which were occupied in the early days of the full-scale invasion and later liberated by Ukrainian forces — remains one of the main goals of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The American outlet reports that Russian forces are attempting to reestablish control over Kherson by targeting key access roads with drones and trying to split the city in two by striking a critical bridge.

The strikes on the bridge between the Korabelnyi district and the city on August 3 damaged it, leading to the evacuation of around 1,800 civilians, the article states.

What is known about the strikes on the Ostrivskyi Bridge

For three consecutive days, Russian forces carried out strikes on the Ostrivskyi Bridge using guided aerial bombs. The day before, the Kherson Regional Military Administration published a video showing the aftermath. A through hole in the roadway is visible in the footage.

Recently, the evacuation zone in Kherson region was expanded. Mandatory evacuation now applies to families with children in the Korabel, Yantarnyi-1, and Yantarnyi-2 districts, as well as all streets located closer to the Dnipro River.

Russian forces have tripled the number of assaults on the islands near Kherson.