Recent reports indicate that 788 Ukrainian marines are missing in action following the withdrawal from Krynky, a village on the Russian-occupied east bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. This information, reported by Suspilne, Ukrainska Pravda, and Slidstvo.Info, highlights the severe toll of the protracted defensive operation that began in October 2023. Additionally, 262 fallen soldiers were evacuated and buried, with official confirmation of these figures still pending.
The Ukrainian General Staff has not commented officially on the withdrawal. However, reports confirm that Ukrainian forces abandoned Krynky several weeks ago due to the village’s complete destruction from intense and sustained Russian bombardment. The village, initially captured during a dramatic river-crossing operation in mid-October 2023, served as a critical bridgehead for Ukrainian forces aiming to liberate southern Ukraine.
Despite the initial success, Ukrainian forces faced overwhelming Russian firepower and numerous assaults, leading to the destruction of most positions in Krynky. The operation near Krynky, described by some soldiers as feeling “hopeless,” involved months of brutal combat with elite Ukrainian Marines holding out against a numerically superior Russian force.
The Ukrainian Army’s spokesperson, Dmytro Lykhovii, confirmed ongoing combat missions in the area but acknowledged the destruction of main positions in Krynky. The village’s evacuation marks a tactical defeat for Kyiv, which had aimed to use the bridgehead for further operations in the strategically crucial southern sector.
у моїх “копиздичів” є обличчя, і це тіпи, які 40 днів сиділи в підвалі, оточені підарами з усіх боків, а ми ніяк, ніяк не могли до них дійти.
у моїх “копиздичів” є ім’я, від якого у багатьох пробіжить по спині легкий холодок або заболить щось в душі. Іванівське.
іванИ. pic.twitter.com/cvjsjmKmfr
— чашечка депрессо (@babkazistvolom) June 15, 2024
Ukraine’s retreat from Krynky underscores the challenges faced in maintaining and expanding liberated territories in the face of sustained Russian military pressure. The operation’s initial establishment in October 2023 was seen as a potential launch point for further advances, but the overwhelming Russian firepower and the inability to establish a sustainable bridge across the Dnipro River hindered these plans.
As of the latest updates, Ukrainian troops continue to hold positions in nearby Kozachi Laheri, but the full extent of casualties and missing personnel remains uncertain. The withdrawal from Krynky signals a critical juncture in Ukraine’s broader strategy to regain control of occupied regions amidst the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian Forces from the 37th Marine Brigade have been using their French-supplied AMX-10RC wheeled tank destroyers as highly mobile artillery pieces, firing 105mm shells at Russian positions across the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. pic.twitter.com/Ixa0tGISa5
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 1, 2024
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