In recent days, Russia has ordered civilians to leave Kherson in anticipation of a Ukrainian offensive to retake the city, the only regional capital Moscow has captured since its invasion in February. Kherson, with a pre-war population of nearly 300,000, has been left cold and dark after power and water were cut off in the surrounding area for the past 48 hours, both sides said. Officials based in Russia blamed Ukrainian “sabotage” and said they were working to restore electricity. Ukrainian officials said the Russians had dismantled 1.5 kilometers (0.9 mi) of power lines and power would likely not be restored until Ukrainian forces retook the area. Kyiv has described the evacuation of the area as a forced deportation, a war crime. Moscow says it is evacuating residents for safety and denies abusing civilians. Kherson is located in the only enclave of Russian territory on the west bank of the Dnieper River that bisects Ukraine. Its recapture has been the main focus of Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the south, which has accelerated since early October. Ukrainian forces near the front line have told Reuters news agency in recent days that they expect a tough battle against Russian troops determined to exact a blood price before they are forced to leave. “While the residents of Kherson are being forcibly expelled from their homes, talking about ‘evacuation’, army and FSB officers are doing what they love most – looting their homes,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo tweeted Podoliak on Monday. Ukraine’s military said in an overnight briefing that Russian forces, “disguised in civilian clothes, are occupying civilian facilities and reinforcing positions inside to conduct street battles.” The situation in Kherson could not be independently confirmed.
“Forced deportation”
Meanwhile, Ukraine announced on Monday that it had received more air defense systems from Western military allies, as officials in Kyiv said the situation with electricity supplies was “strained” following prolonged Russian attacks on energy facilities. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced on Monday that Ukraine had received the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and Italian Aspide air defenses, adding to the weapons supplied by Germany. “NASAMS and Aspide air defense systems arrived in Ukraine! These weapons will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian military and make our skies safer,” Reznikov said on social media. Attacks by Moscow forces, including by Iranian drones last month, have destroyed about 40 percent of Ukraine’s power plants, and the government has urged Ukrainians to maximize electricity savings. The defense ministry, meanwhile, said it had ordered several “strategically important” energy and manufacturing companies to guarantee enough supplies for the military to fend off a Russian invasion. On the diplomatic front, both the White House and the Kremlin declined to comment on a Wall Street Journal report that US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan held talks with aides to Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at reducing the risk of an escalation in war. Podolyak said Ukraine was ready to negotiate an end to the war with a future Russian leader but not Putin, after a Washington Post report that the United States had urged Kyiv to signal its readiness for peace talks to secure that he will maintain Western support. “Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open,” Podolyak said on Twitter, adding that Russia should first withdraw its forces from Ukraine. “Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: We will talk to his next leader [Russia],” he said.
