Thread by @TheStudyofWar

Near-infrared imagery captured at 0400 am ET on June 7 indicates that flooding is heavily disrupting prepared Russian defensive positions on the east bank of the #Dnipro River – especially affecting Russian first-line positions in Hola Prystan & Oleshky. isw.pub/UkrWar060723

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1666624905268412418

2/ The flooding has destroyed many Russian first-line field fortifications that the Russian military intended to use to defend against Ukrainian attacks. isw.pub/UkrWar060723

3/ Various sources reported that Oleshky, Hola Prystan, Kozacha Laheri, and Dnipryany are almost entirely flooded with water levels rising to the height of one-story buildings in some areas.

4/ Rapid flooding has likely forced Russian personnel and military equipment in Russian main concentration points in Oleshky and Hola Prystan to withdraw.

5/ Russian forces had previously used these positions to shell Kherson City and other settlements on the west (right bank) of Kherson.

6/ Ukrainian Southern Operational Command Spokesperson Nataliya Humenyuk stated that Russian forces relocated their personnel and military equipment from 5 to 15 km from the flood zone...

7/ ...which places Russian forces out of artillery range of some settlements on the west (right bank) of the #Dnipro River they had been attacking.

The flood also destroyed Russian minefields along the coast, with footage showing mines exploding in the flood water.

8/ #Kherson Oblast Occupation Head Vladimir Saldo, however, claimed that the destruction of the #KHPP is beneficial to the Russian defenses because it will complicate Ukrainian advances across the river.

9/ Saldo’s assessment of the situation ignores the loss of Russia’s first line of prepared fortifications. The amount of Russian heavy equipment lost in the first 24 hours of flooding is also unclear. isw.pub/UkrWar060723