Colonel Natalia Gumenyuk, who leads the joint coordination press center for the Ukrainian Defense Forces “South,” reported that Russian forces delivered significant blows to the Ukrainian bridgehead at Krynky in the Kherson region. He described the episode as particularly painful for Ukrainian defenders and noted that the account was carried by the Ukrainian outlet Obozrevatel.
Regarding the situation in Krynky, Gumenyuk emphasized that the days have been extremely difficult for Ukrainian positions as enemy fire remains intense. The battlefront at that location has drawn careful attention from observers, given the strategic importance of maintaining a bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper.
Gumenyuk detailed the types of weapons employed by Russian forces, outlining the use of multiple launch rocket systems, heavy artillery, and tanks. He also highlighted the prominent role of unmanned aerial vehicles in the recent operations, underscoring how drones are integrated into the broader assault strategy and reconnaissance efforts on the ground.
According to the Ukrainian military representative, the primary objective of Russia’s assaults appears to be breaking the Ukrainian supply line to the bridgehead on the left bank and forcing Ukrainian units to withdraw from the area. This framing suggests a calculated effort to erode the strategic leverage held by Ukrainian forces in a key segment of the Kherson corridor.
On January 14, the Kherson Region governor, Vladimir Saldo, provided an update indicating that Ukrainian forces had sustained approximately 200 casualties in the Krynky area over the previous week. The figure highlighted the intense tempo of fighting and the heavy losses incurred during the protracted clashes for control of the bridgehead and surrounding positions.
Earlier statements from regional authorities included remarks about a captured Polish mercenary associated with the Ukrainian side. According to those accounts, the captured individual expressed a desire to dissociate from Kiev. The mercenary, identified as David, was reported to have been captured on December 19 near the village of Krynky, where he reportedly sustained injuries and, as stated by Saldo, was left in that state by Ukrainian colleagues. This narrative has contributed to ongoing debates about the conduct of combat operations and the treatment of detainees in the conflict area.
In subsequent developments, members of the Ukrainian armed forces publicly denied claims of a decisive battle in Krynky, arguing that the situation remained fluid and that active engagements were ongoing in several nearby sectors. The exchange of messages between regional officials and military spokespeople has continued to shape the public understanding of who holds the initiative in this contested zone, while humanitarian and strategic considerations remain central for residents and military planners alike.