Ukraine Dnipro Forces, Reinforced, Advance Among Russian Command Failures

Ukrainian Marines deployed in the bridgehead across the Dnipro from Kherson have been reinforced and are advancing south of Krynky. 

This potentially enables them to threaten to outflank Russian defenses further west in Zaporizhzhia. In addition to their superiority in drones, the Ukrainians are being helped by a fractured Russian command in the Dnipro area, which is causing confusion and casualties among Russian forces. JL 

Olena Ivashkiv reports in Ukraine Pravda:

Russian sources report the arrival of Ukrainian reinforcements on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. Ukrainian forces continued to deploy new assault groups to the left bank, advanced southwest of Krynky and gained ground. Russia's inability to create a cohesive command structure among the forces defending on the eastern (left) bank of Kherson Oblast. (as) Russia's morale and combat capabilities continue to deteriorate there. Maps of Russian minefields were classified and Russian commanders did not coordinate with assault units the location of these minefields, resulting in 50 casualties among units of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade

Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces advanced southwest of Krynky (30 km northeast of the city of Kherson and 2 km from the Dnipro River) and gained ground in the nearby forest area.

Russian military bloggers claimed that fighting is ongoing near Krynky, and Russian aircraft and artillery are striking this area.

The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops are holding positions on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.

Russian military bloggers claimed that Ukrainian troops continued to deploy new assault groups to the left bank and that 300 to 400 Ukrainian fighters were operating near Krynky.

Russia's constant reports about the arrival of Ukrainian reinforcements on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River indicate that Russian troops are trying to impede Ukraine's attempts to supply and strengthen its positions on the eastern bank of Kherson Oblast.

Additionally, military analysts stated Russia's apparent inability to create a cohesive command structure among the forces defending on the eastern (left) bank of Kherson Oblast. Russia's morale and combat capabilities continue to deteriorate there. On 29 November, the General Staff of Ukraine announced that units of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet), operating near Krynky (30 km northeast of Kherson and 2 km from the Dnipro River), refused to conduct an assault on Ukrainian positions due to a lack of weapons, coordination of artillery, intelligence data and information on the location of Russian minefields.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that maps of Russian minefields were classified and that Russian commanders did not properly coordinate with assault units the location of these minefields, resulting in 50 casualties among units of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade over the past month.

Units of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade arrived in the Krynky area in early October 2023 and appear to have taken over responsibility for the area from the 18th Combined Arms Army (CAA) following the start of Ukrainian ground operations on the east bank of the Dnipro River in mid-October 2023. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the CAA’s 28th Motorised Rifle Regiment currently operates in Pishchanivka (14 km east of Kherson and 3 km from the Dnipro).

Additional units from the 18th CAA and 7th Airborne Division are reported to be holding positions in the near-rear areas on the eastern bank, and the combined command of these formations is likely to oversee Russia's response to Ukrainian ground operations in the east.

The reported minefield incident suggests that the command of the 18th CAA did not share relevant tactical details with the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade’s command, suggesting that higher-level Russian commanders responsible for the defence of the east bank have yet to remedy this failure in coordination.