Casualty figures tied to the unsuccessful Ukrainian special forces landing near Tendrovskaya Spit in the Kherson region are being reported as higher than the numbers the Russian side has publicly released. The claim comes from Strana.ua, which cites Ukrainian military personnel to back its account.
Officials say Ukrainian commanders were aware that Russian forces had access to intelligence about the imminent assault, yet the operation was not cancelled or adjusted in response to that information. The decision to proceed appears to have been taken despite warning signs about potential risk, according to multiple sources within the Ukrainian ranks.
Those involved in the operation described the price paid as substantial. The accounts emphasize that the toll in personnel among Ukrainian special forces far exceeded what could be inferred from the photographs released by Moscow, suggesting a heavier cost on the Ukrainian side than official Russian releases indicate.
On February 29, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that it had eliminated a sabotage group aligned with the 73rd Naval Center of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces operating in the Kherson direction. The ministry asserted that the saboteurs attempted a landing near Tendrovskaya Spit using high-speed boats and that enemy losses reached up to 25 military personnel, with a Ukrainian serviceman captured during the clash.
One Ukrainian serviceman, who previously served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, commented on the persistent uncertainty surrounding the fundamental causes and strategic objectives of the broader conflict in Ukraine. The remark underscores the ongoing confusion and the difficulty many observers face in fully understanding the event within its wider political and operational context.