Battle of Kherson

Battle of Kherson
Conflict	Battle of Kherson
Partof	the Southern Ukraine campaign of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Date	2 March – 11 November 2022
Place	Kherson, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine
Result	Ukrainian victory
Combatant1	Ukraine
Combatant2	Russia
Commander1	Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Andriy Kovalchuk, Dmytro Marchenko
Commander2	Sergei Surovikin, Mikhail Teplinsky, Oleg Makarevich
Strength1	Armed Forces of Ukraine
Strength2	Russian Armed Forces
Casualties1	Ukrainian claim: Heavy
Casualties2	Ukrainian claim: Heavy

Battle of Kherson was a major military engagement during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, forming a critical component of the Southern Ukraine campaign. The protracted conflict centered on the strategically vital city of Kherson, the first and only regional capital captured by Russian Armed Forces in the initial invasion phase. Following a rapid Russian occupation in early March 2022, Ukrainian forces launched a sustained counteroffensive, culminating in the city's liberation in November after Russia announced a withdrawal to the east bank of the Dnieper.

Background

The battle's origins lie in the broader 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which commenced with a multi-front assault on 24 February. Kherson Oblast, bordering the annexed Crimea and containing the crucial North Crimean Canal, was a primary Russian objective from the southern axis. The regional capital, situated on the west bank of the Dnieper River, represented a significant political, economic, and logistical prize. Its capture would provide Russia a foothold north of Crimea and a potential staging ground for further advances toward Mykolaiv and Odesa. The geopolitical context was heavily influenced by the earlier Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014 and the subsequent War in Donbas.

Prelude

In the opening days of the invasion, Russian forces from Crimea swiftly advanced north, bypassing major Ukrainian defensive lines. Elements of the Russian Airborne Forces and naval infantry from the Black Sea Fleet secured the Kherson International Airport and key bridges. After intense fighting around the city, including clashes at the Kherson TV Tower, Russian troops entered Kherson on 2 March. The Ukrainian Armed Forces withdrew, leading to the start of a prolonged occupation. The Russian military subsequently established defensive positions in the city and surrounding oblast, while Ukraine began planning for a counteroffensive, later known as the 2022 Ukrainian southern counteroffensive.

Battle

The battle for Kherson was characterized by a methodical Ukrainian counteroffensive rather than a single, climactic clash. Throughout the summer and autumn of 2022, Ukrainian Armed Forces, equipped with Western-supplied weapons like the HIMARS, systematically targeted Russian supply lines across the Dnieper River, particularly the critical Antonivka Road Bridge and Kakhovka Dam crossings. This campaign, directed by commanders like Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, severely degraded the logistical capacity of the Russian 49th Combined Arms Army on the west bank. Facing encirclement and unsustainable losses, the Russian military, under the command of Sergei Surovikin, ordered a retreat. Russian forces completed their withdrawal to the eastern bank by 11 November.

Aftermath

The liberation of Kherson on 11 November 2022 marked a major strategic and symbolic victory for Ukraine, dealing a significant blow to Russian morale and war aims. The retaken city showed extensive evidence of Russian war crimes and damage to civilian infrastructure. The front line stabilized along the Dnieper River, with subsequent fighting concentrating on areas like the Krynky bridgehead. The Russian withdrawal left its forces on the east bank vulnerable to ongoing Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes. The victory bolstered international support for Ukraine and influenced strategic discussions at forums like the NATO summit in Madrid.

Order of battle

The Ukrainian effort involved multiple brigades and operational commands. Key formations included the 35th Marine Brigade (Ukraine), the 28th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine), and the 17th Tank Brigade (Ukraine), operating under the Operational Command South. These units were supported by elements of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and the Territorial Defense Forces. The Russian defense was primarily conducted by the Russian 49th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District, which included the 205th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade and the 22nd Army Corps (Russia). Air support was provided by the Russian Aerospace Forces and army aviation.

Legacy

The Battle of Kherson is regarded as a pivotal turning point in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, demonstrating the effectiveness of Ukrainian combined arms tactics and Western military aid. It is studied for its operational art, particularly the use of long-range precision strikes to shape the battlefield. The event is commemorated in Ukraine as a day of national pride, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailing it as a historic moment. The battle also exposed significant weaknesses in Russia's military logistics and command structure, influencing the subsequent course of the war in theaters like the Battle of Bakhmut and the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Category:Battles of the Russian invasion of Ukraine Category:History of Kherson Category:2022 in Ukraine