Ukraine Makes Gains in Kherson, Kharkiv

Map Shows Reported Troop Advances

A map shared on social media by the UK Ministry of Defense shows reported Russian and Ukrainian troop movement in Ukraine as of October 6.

The map highlights Russian-controlled areas and contested areas, as well as reported military advances. It also shows five locations where Russian troops are reported to be gathering.

Two of the Russian troop grouping locations are located in or near the Donbas region, where the UK defense ministry’s map says troop advances are likely being made. Some likely Ukrainian troop advances are also drawn on the map in the Donbas region, and other likely Ukrainian advances are shown further south near the Kherson region.

Ukrainian troops began a “new phase of offensive operations” in the Kherson region earlier this week, according to a Thursday UK Ministry of Defense intelligence update. Ukrainian troops moving south “pushed the front line forward by up to an additional 20km,” with military gains mostly reported east of the Inhulets River and west of the Dnipro River. These advances are “not yet threatening the main Russian defensive positions,” the latest intelligence update said.

Meanwhile, UK defense officials say Russian troops “have typically broken contact and withdrawn” as they face the decision of pulling away from the Dnipro River or staying put to defend Russian-controlled territory. With the “majority” of Russian air forces defending the Kherson region, Russia “currently has few additional, high quality rapidly deployable forces available to stabilize the front,” UK defense officials said, adding that reservists are likely to be sent to these areas instead.