UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 604 - OCTOBER 18, 2023

According to Russian sources, on October 17 and 18, units, likely in company strength, from two Ukrainian Marine Infantry Brigades carried out an attack across the Dnipro River to the eastern (left) bank of Kherson Oblast.

Geolocated footage released on October 18 shows Ukrainian forces advancing north of Pishchanivka (14 km east of the city of Kherson and 3 km from the Dnipro River) and towards Poyma (11 km east of the city of Kherson and 4 km from the Dnipro River). A prominent Russian military blogger claimed that two Ukrainian "assault groups" landed on the east bank of the Dnipro River and penetrated the initial Russian defense lines, temporarily occupying all of Poyma and positions at the northern outskirts of Pishchanivka on the afternoon of October 17. The blogger later claimed that Russian forces pushed back the Ukrainian troops from these positions towards the Dnipro River.

The blogger claimed that a Ukrainian sabotage group was still operating in Pishchanivka on the afternoon of October 18. However, the blogger stated that Russian forces only held positions at the southern edge of the settlement. The Russian Ministry of Defense also confirmed the Ukrainian operations, stating that Russian forces had intercepted four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups near Pidstepne (16 km east of the city of Kherson) and Poyma. Another prominent Russian military blogger also claimed that Ukrainian forces had occupied Poyma during the night from October 17 to 18.

The full Russian Offensive Update 604 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR