Ukrainian official: Russia digging in for 'heaviest of battles' in Kherson - DW News

[TexasTowelie]

As Ukrainian forces advance toward the strategic city of Kherson, Russian troops are digging in for the "heaviest of battles", a senior Ukrainian official said, as the Kremlin prepares to defend the largest city under its control in Ukraine. Experts say the outcome of the battle will be a decisive factor in the coming months.

[Lovie777]

1. UA on the verge of retaking Kherson ......

[getagrip_already]

2. good luck with that...

russia has been observed rotating out it's experienced soldiers and replacing them with mobiks. Mobiks for the most part are untrained, ill equipped with clothing,or weapons, and are just being left in the field with no command or communications.

I guess they are expected to learn on the job, except the experienced soldiers they could best learn from are leaving. The commanders have left.

The mobiks are considered short term consumables. They are expected to be sent on one mission and lost (death, injury, desertion).

They will not last long in street to street fighting. Chechians or PMC's, maybe. But not this lot.

They are speed bumps to let the valued soldiers and equipment get out.

But it will still be a grind to displace them. They will fight if their backs are against a wall, or surrender if they get the chance.

The risk is that a lot of experienced and well armed troops will be trapped along with them. Then it will take time and blood.

[Warpy]

3. Russia pulls occupying officials out of Kherson as it braces for Ukrainian offensive

Mykolaiv, Ukraine CNN —

A veil of uncertainty has descended over Ukraine’s southern front, as a counteroffensive raises hopes of further Ukrainian gains and speculation grows about what Russia’s next move might be.

There are mixed signals over Russia’s plans for the key city of Kherson, which it has occupied since the early days of the war. Some indications suggest Moscow is bracing for battle, while others point towards preparations for withdrawal.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/25/europe/kherson-russian-soldiers-defend-city-intl

To me, it looks like all the "important" people have been evacuated and the troops have been told to fight to the death. Considering how popular this war has been, we'll just have to see how that goes. My guess syas the fight will go out of them sooner than that.