[Teeth53]

Ukraine made more headway in southern Kherson province, pushing back Putin's private army. The  Wagner Group mercenaries in Bakhmut, Donetsk, and "gained new momentum in Luhansk, seizing a key highway.

https://theweek.com/russo-ukrainian-war/...k-kyiv-and

Putin private army holds a unique position that allows him to reap the benefits of Putin's dependency on Wagner forces without having formal responsibility for any axis or area in Ukraine and while wielding considerable influence" through multiple Telegram and media channels and rapport with the military bloggers.

The Institute for the Study of War research groups said. "Prigozhin's influence in the information space is evident through the positive portrayal of Wagner forces, despite their failure, fail to make significant advances in the Bakhmut area."

In Kherson, Russian forces appear to be digging in to defend the regional capital, Kherson City, while "evacuating" — or resettling — thousands of civilians and government officials across the Dnipro River, ISW reports. There were earlier hints that Russia was planning a retreat from all of Kherson west of the Dnipro, but "Russian milbloggers claimed that the Russian military command has not decided on the fate of Kherson City, given the ongoing situation in Kherson Oblast."

Ukrainian commanders told CNN they are confident they'll drive Russian forces over the Dnipro before the end of the year.