While Ukraine likely missed its opportunity for a swift counterattack in Kherson, its pressure on Russian forces near the southern city, combined with its continued foothold in the eastern Donbas region, could force Russia to delay annexing Ukrainian territories. But Russia still retains the overall military advantage and desire to seize areas of Ukraine, leaving the door open to eventual annexations. In recent weeks, Western and Ukrainian officials and analysts have spoken of an attempted Ukrainian campaign to retake the strategic city of Kherson and surrounding territory on the western (right) bank of the mouth of the Dnieper River. Recent strikes by Ukrainian forces in Russian-occupied Crimea, as well as on the few bridges linking Kherson and the western bank of the Dnieper River to Russia's ''land corridor'' to Crimea on the eastern (left) bank, have only strengthened speculation regarding a Ukrainian counterattack toward Kherson. However, a large-scale Russian redeployment...
