Ukraine’s Armed Forces likely preparing to launch counteroffensive in Kherson region – ISW

The report was published on the ISW's website on July 18, Ukrinform reports.

According to ISW exerts, Serh Khlan, an adviser to the Kherson Region Administration stated on July 23 that Ukrainian forces have seized unspecified settlements in Kherson region but called on Ukrainian civilians “to remain silent on the progress of the counteroffensive until Ukrainian authorities release official statements”.

In addition, Foreign Picy National Security reporter Jack Detsch informed on July 22 that an unspecified senior US defense official stated that Ukrainian forces have recaptured unspecified “portions of Russian-occupied villages” in Kherson over the past week of July 15-22, which shows that “Ukrainian forces have made some unspecified territorial advances along frontlines”.

According to ISW experts, the area between the front line and Kherson city is rural and primarily composed of small settlements that are less likely to report on force movements and engagements, allowing contr-of-terrain in this area to change without evidence appearing in en-source reporting.

At the same time, Russian authorities additionally have no incentive to report on Ukrainian territorial gains. “The informational dynamics that allow ISW to report on Russian offensive erations with relatively little lag are thus inverted in this situation,” the report reads.

ISW experts added they would will report on the progress of any Ukrainian counteroffensives to the best of its ability within these constraints, noting that en-source visibility on the progress and tempo of the counteroffensive would likely be limited and lag behind events.