Day 263: New Restrictions in Kherson as City Faces Shortages of Electricity, Food and Water

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Facts

  • Ukrainian authorities in Kherson have introduced a new curfew and announced that river transport into and out of the city will be banned between November 13-19, amid continuing concerns that Russian forces may resume shelling on the area.
  • The news came as local officials urged residents not to return to their homes until Kyiv's forces have secured Kherson. Over the weekend, 10 groups of bomb disposal experts — who have so far removed 2K explosives from the city — were working in Kherson. Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also commented that Ukraine's forces had control of 60 towns in the Kherson region, after Russian forces announced their evacuation earlier this week.
  • Speaking to The Washington Post, an official said over the weekend that the regional capital is "on the brink of a humanitarian crisis," after Russian sabotage of Kherson's critical infrastructure during their evacuation left residents without enough food or water. City official Roman Holovina also said: "There is currently not enough medicine" and that "there is no electricity."
  • Meanwhile, Ukraine's president said on Saturday that pro-Moscow forces are putting up punishing efforts in other parts of the country, especially Donetsk. "There it is just hell," he said, adding that: "our units are defending bravely - they are withstanding the terrible pressure of the invaders, preserving our defense lines."
  • Elsewhere, the US suggested on Sunday that some sanctions on the Russian Federation could remain in place, even if a peace resolution were agreed between Zelenskyy and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Janet Yellen, the US Treasury Secretary, said that a review of any measures already imposed on the Russian economy would take place if peace were agreed, but didn't indicate that all would be rescinded.
  • Finally, according to analysis from the Institute for the Study of War, the Russian evacuation from Kherson has prompted ideological splintering among Moscow's leadership. Putin is reportedly struggling to appease pro-war ideologues and the Russian nationalist community at large, while the latest retreat has eroded confidence in his commitment to deliver on promises concerning the so-called 'special operation'.

Sources: BBC News, Financial Times, Washington Post, Reuters, Guardian, and Understanding War.

Narratives

  • Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by PBS NewsHour. This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after an election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
  • Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by National Security Archive. NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.

Predictions