Occupying forces prepared artillery in north of Crimea for battles for Kherson region - Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

DENYS KARLOVSKYI —  MONDAY, 9 MAY 2022, 17:22

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine says that the Russian occupying forces have recruited additional artillery units in the north of the Crimean peninsula for future battles for the Kherson region.

Source: briefing by Defence Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk

Motuzianyk's quote: "Such actions by the enemy are in pursuit of several goals.

Of course, this is a so-called manoeuvre, it is an increase in forces so that the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces located in certain areas do not move to other operational zones, [so this] ties down [Ukrainian] troops.

Secondly, as we know, Russia aims to seize the Kherson region (in addition to Donetsk and Luhansk regions). Therefore, we expect that this equipment will most likely be used by the enemy there. "

Background: 

• Journalists see from satellite images that the Russian army has brought additional units of anti-aircraft missile forces to the north of the Crimean peninsula near the administrative border with the Kherson region.
• The occupation administration in the Kherson region has brought back the double-headed eagle emblem of the Russian Empire and is trying to force people to obtain Russian citizenship.Tthe Russians are holding hundreds of Ukrainians in basements in the Kherson region, torturing and killing them.

• According to US intelligence, Russia will try to "formalise the annexation" of the Kherson region in mid-May.