British intelligence said today, Saturday, that the Ukrainian army has made progress on the Russian-occupied eastern bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine. Ukraine is said to have captured the so-called “bridgehead”. Service, however, refers to the area near the river which, if successfully captured, could secure a stronghold for further advance.

The British Ministry of Defense said that Ukrainian forces have been moving towards the river bank for about a week. However, the battle around the bank is complicated by the destruction of the nearby Kachovka Dam on 6 June, and subsequent flooding.

Ukrainian forces retook the city of Kherson, on the west bank of the Dnipro River, a few months ago, but large parts of the region remain under Russian control. Since breaching the dam, Russian forces have launched many attacks on the city. Kiev and Moscow hold each other responsible for breaching the dam.

Ukraine is currently launching a counterattack, but it seems to be more difficult than expected. Ukraine is also reluctant to post victories. President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted last week that the counterattack was “more difficult than he had hoped”.

editorial