Russia’s losses Kherson UPSC Relevance
Russia Withdrew from Kherson: Russia-Ukraine War is continuing for a long time. Russia-Ukraine War and its implication for the world and India is important for UPSC Prelims Exam (International News) and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- International Relations).
Russia’s losses Kherson in News
- Recently, Ukraine’s defence and intelligence unit has reported on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson but predicts it to be a delusion for a retreat.
Geo-Strategic Location and Importance Kherson
- Geographically, Kherson is a strategic location for Russia and Ukraine. Situated in the northwest of the Dnipro River, the province shares borders with Donetsk, Crimea and the Black Sea.
- With Moscow capturing Crimea in 2014, the occupation of Kherson in March 2022 has benefited Russia in transferring its military from Crimea to counter Ukraine.
- It provides access to Odesa and Black Sea ports in the west and serves as the main route to secure southern Ukraine.
- For Ukraine, regaining Kherson is significant to protect its population in Kalanchak and Chaplynka districts and also to recapture Crimea.
- Kherson is also an important region for its agricultural produce, with irrigation channels.
Battle of Kherson- Russia’s Capture of Kherson
- In early March 2022, Kherson was captured by Russia through intense fighting.
- The battle of Kherson proved to be the starting point to capturing and occupying the southern part of Ukraine while the battles for Kharkiv and Kyiv in the north progressed.
- Russia’s hold over Kherson since March 2022 enabled Moscow to capture the key port cities- Mariupol in the Sea Azov, and Odesa, thus expanding control.
- Kherson’s irrigation canals were used as defence positions, creating a strong line preventing Ukraine’s counter-attacks.
- Russia also had positioned its soldiers in Kherson and stockpiled the ammunition.
Reasons for Russia’s Withdrawal from Kherson
- Mobilisation failure: When Russia was advancing rapidly in capturing the southern and northern cities of Ukraine, its military personnel and weapon systems started to run thin.
- Russia then pursued a partial mobilisation as the next strategy to circumvent its on-ground limitations.
- The failure of new recruits added an additional challenge to Russia to keep its hold against the Ukraine counter-offensive in Kherson.
- Inability of Russia to govern Kherson: Despite imposing martial law, Russia could not effectively rule Kherson.
- The three-level security in the occupied areas could not enforce Russia’s control on the ground.
- Ukraine’s expanding counter-offensive: Until August, Ukraine was supplied only with short-range and low-grade weapons by the West. Later, Ukrainian soldiers received military training.
- As Moscow continued its onslaught, the West upgraded its support with medium to high-range weapons systems such as the Howitzers, HIMARS, air defence systems, battle tanks and drone technologies.
- It came from the U.S., the U.K. and Germany, whereas Russia’s procurement was slow and limited to Shahed drones.
- This helped Ukraine recapture Russian-occupied areas including Izyum, northeast, southeast of Kharkiv, Izyum-Slovyansk, Kupiansk in Eastern Ukraine, and northwest Kherson in the south.
Russia’s losses in Kherson Conclusion
- Withdrawal from Kherson exposes a serious gap in Russia’s strategy to hold southern Ukraine.
- However, it also underlines its strategy — to withdraw under serious attack or resistance by the Ukrainian forces — as it happened in Kyiv and Kharkiv.
Russia’s losses in Kherson FAQs
- Where is Kherson located?
Ans. Geographically, Kherson is situated in the northwest of the Dnipro River, the province shares borders with Donetsk, Crimea and the Black Sea.
- Why Russia withdrew from Kherson?
Ans. Russia withdrew from Kherson due to its internal governance issues and mobilization failure.
- When did Russia Captured/Occupied Kherson?
Ans. In the ongoing Russia Ukraine War, Russia captured the Kherson in March 2022.
Impact of Russia Ukraine War on Indian Economy
