[Goose]

There are reports in the Ukrainian press that Russia has not sufficiently mined the Kakhovka dam at this moment to destroy it.
https://www.yahoo.com/now/russians-t-blo...00938.html
Hopefully this is 1)true and 2)durable. Nova Kakhovka is still "the place to be" for Ukraine IMHO.

There are also reports that Russia does in fact intend to defend Kherson city. These reports are subsequent to many reports to the contrary. I suspect Russia doesn't really know what they "intend to do" in Kherson city. Politically Putin really wants to hold on to it. Giving it up is a big black eye. If Russia ever intends to take Odessa, they must have it. OTOH, the tactical position there is horrible and any "reasonable" military would have evacuated it two months ago. Ukraine to this point hasn't been able to put Russia in a position where they have no choice. It is unclear that they can, although there are indications this grinding offensive will continue. As a result, things kind of hang fire, which is probably to the Russian's advantage. We shall see.

[Goose]

There are reports in the Ukrainian press that Russia has not sufficiently mined the Kakhovka dam at this moment to destroy it.
https://www.yahoo.com/now/russians-t-blo...00938.html
Hopefully this is 1)true and 2)durable. Nova Kakhovka is still "the place to be" for Ukraine IMHO.

There are also reports that Russia does in fact intend to defend Kherson city. These reports are subsequent to many reports to the contrary. I suspect Russia doesn't really know what they "intend to do" in Kherson city. Politically Putin really wants to hold on to it. Giving it up is a big black eye. If Russia ever intends to take Odessa, they must have it. OTOH, the tactical position there is horrible and any "reasonable" military would have evacuated it two months ago. Ukraine to this point hasn't been able to put Russia in a position where they have no choice. It is unclear that they can, although there are indications this grinding offensive will continue. As a result, things kind of hang fire, which is probably to the Russian's advantage. We shall see.