Rumors are spreading in Telegram channels that Ukrainian troops have recaptured both settlements on the eastern bank of the Kherson region (after Russian troops were pushed back from the western bank on Friday) and positions on the Kinburn Peninsula, notes The Guardian.

These rumors about a new stage of the Ukrainian offensive complement Saturday’s statement by the Southern Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that military operations are underway to retake the Kinburn Peninsula, located south of the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions in the Black Sea.

But in the morning report of the General Staff of Ukraine, there were no reports of an offensive on these fronts. Ukrainian authorities often delay confirmation of the success of a battle or operation for a day or two after its completion.

Mysterious message from Yermak

The Head of the Administration of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, reacted to rumors about the release of the Kinburn Peninsula by posting mysterious emojis on Twitter.

The reaction came after several Russian sources said on Monday that the Ukrainian army had entered the town of Heroiske on the Kinburn Peninsula in an amphibious operation. Some Russian sources reported that the assault by Ukrainian forces was repulsed.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, in June Russian troops took control of Kinburn Split, a small peninsula near Ochakov in the northern part of the Black Sea on the southern border of Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.

Control over the Kinburn spit allowed Russian troops to strengthen their control over the northwestern coast of the Black Sea.

What information is circulating at the moment

Forbes also notes that back in April, British intelligence services advised their government to support Ukrainian forces in any future attempt to “conduct beach reconnaissance” on Kinburn Spit. future counterattack,” the agents explained at the briefing, which was later released to the mass media.

Ukrainian special forces using inflatable boats could start reconnaissance of the Kinburn Spit as early as September. In October, a video appeared on the Internet purportedly showing the last remaining large ship of the Ukrainian Navy, the amphibious assault ship Olefirenko, firing missiles at Russian forces on or near the shore.

On Saturday, the Southern Command of the Ukrainian Army announced its intention to release Kinbourn. Within a day, videos appeared on the Internet in which Ukrainian special forces are heading towards her in small boats.

If and when the Ukrainians forcibly depose Kinbourn, the odds will be in their favor.

“Given recent events in Kherson, it is within range of (Ukrainian) artillery,” explained Mike Martin, a fellow at King’s College London’s Department of War Studies.

“It is very difficult for the Russians to hold on” in Kherson and Mykolaiv, Martin added. The Kinburn Spit may be the next piece of Ukraine that they may have to give up.

(article photo ©Andrey Skaternoy|Dreamstime.com)