Victory Chronicles-DAY 712

As a result of Russian shelling of the central part of Kherson, at least four people were killed, and one person was injured. The incident occurred after the shelling from the temporarily occupied left bank by Russian occupying forces.

According to Roman Mrochko, head of the Kherson City Military Administration, a fire broke out in the city center following the impact of enemy shells. “Upon arrival at the scene, rescuers found the bodies of two men,” Mrochko reported, adding that information is being further clarified.

Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, specified that the shelling damaged a passenger car in the city center, which caught fire. Rescuers found the bodies of two deceased men in the car’s cabin.

Furthermore, a 24-year-old man from Kherson was injured as a result of the enemy strikes and was taken to the hospital with a blast injury. Prokudin reported the continuation of shelling of the center of Kherson by Russian forces, resulting in a 66-year-old woman receiving fatal injuries while being on the street during the artillery strike. A 60-year-old man also died, having received fatal injuries.

Dutch Defense Minister Keesa Ollongren said that her ministry is preparing six more F-16 fighter jets for delivery to Ukraine. On Monday, Ollongren reported this on her Twitter account (X): “The Dutch Ministry of Defense is preparing 6 additional F-16 fighter jets for delivery to Ukraine. This will bring the total number of fighter jets to 24. Ukrainian air superiority is essential to counter Russian aggression,” the minister said in a statement.

Police explosive experts neutralized the warheads of a Russian X-32 missile and a Geranium-2 drone shot down over Kharkiv Oblast. “The explosive team found its front warhead in the field, which was deformed. In compliance with safety measures, we carried out preparatory work and took it to the blasting site and destroyed it,” said Yuriy Panishev, Senior Inspector on Special Assignment of the Explosive Service Department of the Kharkiv Regional Police.

The press service of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed the Mykolaiv artillery marines in action. 

Russia’s reported reserve concentrations throughout Ukraine largely align with Russia’s assessed priorities along the front, although they are not necessarily indicative of future Russian operations. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated that Russian forces currently have 17 regiments, 16 battalions, and two regiment-battalion level tactical detachments in reserve.

Mashovets stated that there are about 60,000-62,000 total Russian personnel in reserve units, but Russian forces have only equipped about 20,000 tactical and operational-tactical level reserve personnel with weapons and equipment. Mashovets stated that Russia’s reserves are concentrated in the greatest numbers in the operational zone of the Southern Grouping of Forces, followed by the Western Grouping of Forces, Dnepr Grouping of Forces, the Zaporizhia Grouping of Forces, the Eastern Grouping of Forces, and the Central Grouping of Forces. The Southern Grouping of Forces is responsible for the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions, and Mashovets noted that the reserve concentration in this area aligns with the areas where Russian forces are concentrating their offensive efforts. Mashovets observed that it is not surprising that the Dnepr Grouping of Forces — which operates in occupied Kherson Oblast — has the third highest number of reserves given that Russian forces may be concerned over a Ukrainian threat in east (left) bank Kherson Oblast. Ukrainian officials have recently indicated that Russian forces have more than 70,000 personnel on the east bank of the Dnipro River in Zaporizhia and Kherson oblasts, but that many are concentrated deeper in the rear.

The Dnipro Grouping of Forces’ reserves would likely be able to easily move to the Zaporizhia direction if circumstances so required. Mashovets assessed that the Central Grouping of Forces, which is responsible for the Lyman direction, has the lowest concentration of reserves due to its smaller operational zone that requires fewer troops. ISW additionally assesses that the Central Grouping of Forces has a lower concentration of reserves because Russian operations in the Lyman direction are likely meant to support the Western Grouping of Forces’ operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove line, as ISW will soon outline in an upcoming operational analysis of the Russian offensive on the Kharkiv-Luhansk axis. Russian forces will be able to move their reserve concentrations freely between different sectors of the front as long as Russia holds the strategic initiative across the theater. ISW continues to assess that an active Ukrainian defense throughout the theater in 2024 would cede the strategic initiative to Russia allowing Moscow to determine where, when, and at what scale fighting occurs in Ukraine and to allocate Russian resources appropriately while forcing Ukraine to respond. Ukraine would be able to deny Russia this ability, however, if Ukraine were able to contest the initiative.

27-year-old fighter Viktor Denysiuk, with the call sign Den, died on September 6, 2023, near the village of Huliaypilske, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. While performing a combat mission, the defender came under enemy mortar fire and sustained fatal injuries.

Viktor is from the town of Sinelnykove, Dnipro Oblast. He graduated from Myrolyubiv Technical School and received a profession as a mechanic. In civilian life, he worked at a factory. In 2017-2018, he participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation / Joint Forces Operation. Before the full-scale invasion, he worked at an offset printing plant. He was fond of fishing. He liked to spend his free time with his family.

During the full-scale war, in March 2022, the man took up arms again and defended his country. He served in the 108th separate Territorial Defense Brigade. He was a senior rifleman.

“He was a loving husband and a good stepfather. He loved his nephews very much. He was cheerful and cheerful. For me, he is a Hero who was not afraid and went to defend Ukraine,” said Kateryna, the deceased’s wife.

Viktor was buried in his hometown. Viktor is survived by his mother, wife, stepson, sister and nephews. 

*Viktor’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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