Ukrainian forces have gained control of the Dnipro left bank’s floodplain in Kherson Oblast, forcing the Russians to build new defensive lines on hills farther from the river, former Aidar Battalion company commander Yevhen Dykyi told Radio NV.
“In fact, the Dnipro floodplain is effectively under Ukrainian control. And now the Russians are trying to prevent any further steps. They have essentially ceded the floodplain to us, but they are trying to dig in and fortify themselves where the terrain begins to rise. Although it’s not accurate to call them hills, there is a slight elevation compared to the mostly flat terrain. At the moment, they are trying to dig in, fortify themselves, and establish some sort of defensive line along this elevation,” Dykyi said, noting that the Russians have nothing similar to the so-called Surovikin defensive line
I don’t think you don’t appreciate what has happened so far. Occupying a terrain that is almost impassable, unusable, of no strategic or tactical value, etc, is not significant progress. When they overcome that terrain and establish a real bridgehead, capable of fortifying, expanding, providing logistical support, etc, it will be significant progress.
Is the terrain ahead more defensible than a river crossing?
I might agree with that logic, but the land on the left bank where the bridgehead is maybe only one of those things.