Trump’s deadline is here, but Putin is trying so hard to take Ukraine that he’s shelling his own people

The city of Kherson, a key strategic location in southern Ukraine, is once again under a brutal and ongoing attack by Russian forces. The latest escalation is focused on the Korabel district, an island suburb of the city, where Ukraine is evacuating hundreds of civilians after a major Russian strike destroyed the only bridge connecting it to the mainland. This comes at the end of Trump’s supposed hard deadline.

This attack has raised concerns that Russia may be preparing a new attempt to retake the city, which it lost in a humiliating defeat in 2022. The attack on the bridge has cut off the Korabel district, leaving the remaining residents without basic necessities like gas, electricity, stores, or public transportation.

According to Politico, out of the 1,800 people who used to live there, only around 600 remain, and evacuation efforts are underway to help the most vulnerable escape. Despite these efforts, Russian forces keep attacking the bridge and the surrounding area, making the situation extremely dangerous for civilians and rescue workers.

Russia is hitting Ukraine hard

This new offensive is not an isolated incident but part of a larger, more aggressive strategy by the Kremlin. Russian troops have been regrouping in the region and trying to land forces on the many islands in the Dnipro River delta. However, Ukrainian forces have been successfully stopping these attempts, detecting and eliminating the enemy before they can gain a foothold. Even though crossing the wide and dangerous Dnipro River is extremely difficult, the Russians are pushing to take every island they can.

Attempting to land troops in the Korabel area would be a very high-risk move for the Russian military, possibly even suicidal. The destruction of the bridge makes it nearly impossible to expand or hold any position on the island. The Dnipro River serves as a major obstacle, creating a deadly zone for any invading forces. Since the Ukrainian army controls the Dnipro delta, any Russian effort to reach the Korabel district would require moving through multiple islands and narrow waterways while under constant Ukrainian fire.

The constant shelling of Kherson, even after its liberation, has been unrelenting. The city, which once had a population of 300,000, now has only 65,000 residents and has been under continuous attack from the left bank of the Dnipro. Russian forces are using mortars, glide bombs, and an increasing number of drone strikes to target the city and its suburbs. Drone attacks have risen sharply, from 200-220 per day to around 300. These drones are often used to hunt down civilians in what has been called a “human safari.” Local officials have responded by setting up anti-drone nets over key roads and communication points to protect the remaining residents.