UPDATE: Russian-controlled Novaya Kakhovka EVACUATED following Ukraine’s counteroffensive in Kherson

UKRAINE’S military are reportedly making gains in the Kherson region after launching a counteroffensive on Monday, August 29. This has reportedly led to the evacuation of people in controlled Novaya Kakhovka.

UPDATE 2.33 pm (August 29) – New information has emerged regarding the counteroffensive launched by Ukraine in the Kherson region on Monday, August 29. In Russian-controlled Novaya Kakhovka, Kherson region, evacuations from workplaces has been announced, people are leaving for shelters.

“Workplace evacuations have been announced in Novaya Kakhovka, people are going to shelters, there are no plans to evacuate the population from the city, the head of the administration, Vladimir Leontiev, told RIA Novosti.

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine have launched offensive actions in many directions in the south of Ukraine,” said the Head of the United Coordinating Press Center of Security and Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine, Nataliia Humeniuk.

Ukrainian Armed Forces launched an offensive in many directions in the south of Ukraine — Nataliya Gumenyuk, head of press-center for Southern Defense Forces

— Anastasia Magazova 🌻 (@a_magazova) August 29, 2022

Two senior US officials told CNN that “Ukrainian forces have begun “shaping” operations in Southern Ukraine to prepare the battlefield for a significant Ukrainian counteroffensive.”

A map from Ukrainian sources reportedly shows the Kherson frontline as of Monday, August 29.

Ukrainian sources sharing this map from the Kherson frontline. pic.twitter.com/uEKBqKrUyo

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) August 29, 2022

Another wrote: “Russian troops in the Kherson region have nowhere to run. Ukrainian defenders put beyond use the four major bridges: across the Inhulets’ River at Dar’yivka and across the Dnipro River at Antonivka, Prydniprovs’ke (railway bridge) and the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.”

Russian fascist troops in Kherson region have nowhere to run.

Ukrainian defenders put beyond use the four major bridges: across the Inhulets' River at Dar'yivka and across the Dnipro River at Antonivka, Prydniprovs'ke (railway bridge) and the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. pic.twitter.com/O2zMbnQhyy

— Michael MacKay (@mhmck) August 29, 2022

Videos reportedly show Ukrainian jets attacking Russian positions somewhere in the east.

📽️Ukrainian jets attacking Russian positions somewhere in the east. #UkraineRussiaWar #Donbas pic.twitter.com/SvfjsIaotQ

— MilitaryLand.net (@Militarylandnet) August 29, 2022

People have concluded that Russia is unlikely to be ready for such an attack from Ukraine, with one person on social media noting.

“The Ukrainian military is announcing “significant” military successes in Kherson. The Russians seem ill-prepared to deal with this counteroffensive.”

The Ukrainian military is announcing "significant" military successes in Kherson.

The Russians seem ill-prepared to deal with this counteroffensive.

— Contented Independent (@ContentedIndie) August 29, 2022

While others have reacted with hope after the news of the counteroffensive was announced, such as Twitter user Iryna Matviyishyn.

“So many people in Kherson oblast, who are living under the most appalling conditions, are waiting for this breakthrough to become a counteroffensive, and then, liberation from Russian occupiers. You can feel this profound hope and prayers for the Ukrainian army on social media.”

So many people in Kherson oblast, who are living under the most appalling conditions, are waiting for this breakthrough to become a counteroffensive, and then, liberation from Russian occupiers. You can feel this profound hope and prayers for the Ukrainian army on social media

— Iryna Matviyishyn (@IMatviyishyn) August 29, 2022

ORIGINAL 11.57 am (August 29) – Reports from Ukraine on Monday, August 29 suggest that Ukraine’s counteroffensive attacks are reportedly making gains in the Kherson direction as Russian paratroopers have been seen fleeing the battlefield.

Unverified reports from Ukraine have said that Russian forces are backtracking in Kherson thanks to Ukraine’s counteroffensive manoeuvres which are allowing troops to make gains in the region.

The Kakhovka Operational Group of Troops took to Facebook on Monday, August 29 and wrote: “In the Kherson region, Russian troops have moved away from their positions, paratroopers are fleeing the battlefield.”

According to early reports from Ukraine, the country’s defence forces launched a counterattack on the right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Region overnight and apparently managed to clear several settlements and reach the Kherson direction.

A video online reportedly shows a Russian soldier coming under heavy attack.

https://twitter.com/pauljawin/status/1564182512758394881?s=21&t=riGhssYKDwGddMdckSPi0g

The operational headquarters of the Kakhovka military unit officially reports that the counterattack resulted in the 109th regiment of the “people’s militia” of the so-called “DPR” being knocked out of the defensive positions.

The “Kakhovka” OOV also noted that Russian troops in the Kherson region have been disrupted from receiving equipment and personnel from the territory of Crimea.

“The big and bad HIMARS demolished practically all large bridges (Antonivskyi Railway, Automobile and Novokakhivskyi). Only the pedestrian crossings remained. For Ukraine, this is a great chance to regain its territories,” “Kakhovka” OOV servicemen said on Facebook.

War correspondent Oliver Carroll said that “report that Ukrainians have had some success breaking through Russian proxy defences near Kherson is likely to be a fluid situation.”

Report that Ukrainians have had some success breaking through Russian proxy defences near Kherson. Likely to be a fluid situation. https://t.co/yM6S8i2XhJ

— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) August 29, 2022

The news of the apparent breakthrough in the Kherson region comes after former Ukrainian MP Aleksei (Oleksiy) Kovalev (Kovalyov), who defected to Russia to become deputy head of agriculture in the occupied-Kherson government, was found dead on Sunday, August 28.

Differing reports suggest that the 33-year-old was either stabbed or shot. His wife was reportedly stabbed as in intensive care.

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