Ukrainian Forces Continue Gains in Battle

Ukrainian Forces Continue Gains in Battle

Ukrainian forces have broken through Russian defenses in the important southern Kherson area. It is Ukraine's biggest gain in the south of the country since the war began.

Ukraine gave no official confirmation² of the gains. But a Russian military spokesman³ admitted that a Ukrainian tank offensive⁴ had advanced along the Dnieper River's west bank and recaptured several villages along the way.

Kherson is one of the four areas in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed⁶ last week. They were annexed after a vote controlled by Russia. Western nations call it a false vote conducted at gunpoint.

The annexation⁷ threatened to push the conflict to a dangerous new level. It also led Ukraine to apply for fast-track NATO membership⁸.

Ukraine has been pushing its counter-offensive in the Kherson area since the summer. The advance in the south came after its troops hit Russian supply lines, cut off larger Russian forces, and forced them to withdraw. It is similar to the military actions that have brought Ukraine major gains in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian media on Monday showed an image of Ukrainian troops displaying flags at the village of Khreshchenivka. It is the same area of Kherson where Ukrainian troops have broken through Russian lines.

Oleh Zhdanov is a military expert based in Kyiv. He told Reuters, "The fact we have broken through the front means that ... the Russian army has already lost the ability to attack, and today or tomorrow it could lose the ability to defend."

A Russian-supported official in Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, admitted in a video Monday morning that the Ukrainian forces "have broken through a little deeper." However, he said that "everything is under control" and that Russia's "defense¹ system is working" in the area.

Uncertainty⁹ in Russia

As Russian forces continued to withdraw, its parliament started to approve treaties for four areas of Ukraine to join Russia. However, Russian officials and lawmakers gave conflicting signals on exactly what areas are being annexed.

Ukraine's push to recapture territory in recent weeks has also caused Russians to question and criticize the war.

Tens of thousands of Russian men left Russia after Putin announced a military call-up on September 21. Many have flown to Turkey, one of the few countries that has maintained air connections with Russia. Others have fled in cars, creating a lot of traffic at Russian borders to Finland, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and other places.

Russia's military difficulties have led to a change in state media's presentation. "For a certain period of time, things won't be easy for us. We shouldn't be expecting good news right now," said Vladimir Solovyov, a presenter¹⁰ on state TV.

Ramzan Kadyrov is the leader of Russia's Chechnya territory. He demanded the commander of Russian forces in eastern Ukraine lose his medals and be sent to the front line. Kadyrov also said Russia should use a nuclear weapon.

Putin and other officials have suggested that they could use nuclear weapons to protect Russian territory, including the newly annexed areas. But they have not said they will do so.

Words in This Story

annex⁵ — v. to add to a country, state, etc.; to take control

track — n. the course along which someone or something moves or proceeds

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

3 spokesman   

n.发言人，代言人

参考例句：

• The government spokesman gave a quick briefing to the reporters.政府发言人向记者们作了情况简介。
• They drew lots to decide who should be their spokesman.他们抽签决定谁是他们的发言人。

4 offensive   

adj.令人不快的，侮辱的，攻击用的；n.进攻

参考例句：

• His mode of doing business is offensive to me.他干事情的方式叫我很不喜欢。
• If all else fails,I will take the offensive.如果其他方法不行，我将采取攻势。

5 annex   

vt.兼并，吞并；n.附属建筑物

参考例句：

• It plans to annex an England company in order to enlarge the market.它计划兼并一家英国公司以扩大市场。
• The annex has been built on to the main building.主楼配建有附属的建筑物。

6 annexed   

[法] 附加的，附属的

参考例句：

• Germany annexed Austria in 1938. 1938年德国吞并了奥地利。
• The outlying villages were formally annexed by the town last year. 那些偏远的村庄于去年正式被并入该镇。

7 annexation   

n.吞并，合并

参考例句：

• He mentioned the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910 .他提及1910年日本对朝鲜的吞并。
• I regard the question of annexation as belonging exclusively to the United States and Texas.我认为合并的问题，完全属于德克萨斯和美国之间的事。

8 membership   

n.成员资格，会员全体，从属关系

参考例句：

• I must renew my membership of the sailing club.我必须延续我的航海俱乐部会员的资格。
• He made up his mind to apply for membership in the Party.他决心申请入党。

9 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

10 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。