"Ukrainian Troops Secure Foothold in South as Russia Struggles to Contain River Crossing"

Ukrainian forces have secured a foothold on the east bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff. This marks the first official acknowledgement of Ukrainian troops being established in the Kherson region. Russian forces had previously seized the region but abandoned it last year. As Ukraine's counteroffensive progresses slowly, Ukrainian officials have been cautious in describing their activities on the east bank. Russia claimed to have thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to establish a bridgehead on the eastern bank, but this could not be independently verified. In an address to the Hudson Institute, the chief of staff emphasized the need for weapons, as Russia still maintains air superiority and has access to missile production and foreign military support.