Russian Troops Refuse Island Deployments on Dnipro River

Russian troops are refusing to deploy to observation posts in the Dnipro River’s island zone near Kherson because of worsening logistical problems that leave them without evacuation, water, or medical supplies, a Ukrainian military spokesperson said.

Speaking to Ukrainian state media Ukrinform on Thursday, Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn said morale among Russian units assigned to the islands has deteriorated significantly.

“Russian soldiers do not want to go to these observation posts,” Voloshyn said. “First of all, because there are enormous logistical problems.”

According to Voloshyn, Russian forces stationed on the islands rely on observation posts spread across several small land masses in the Dnipro delta.

He said soldiers deployed there often remain isolated, with no reliable evacuation routes or regular deliveries of drinking water, food, medicine, and other essential supplies.

The logistical difficulties have contributed to a sharp decline in morale among the units responsible for manning the positions, Voloshyn added.

He said Russian commanders are currently selecting personnel for transfer to other sectors of the front. Soldiers who refuse deployment to the islands may instead be reassigned to assault units, including those operating near Orikhiv in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.

Struggle with expansion

The islands in the Dnipro delta have remained a contested area since Ukrainian forces liberated the western bank of the river in late 2022.

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Askania-Nova, one of Europe’s oldest and most important steppe nature reserves, has remained under Russian occupation since the early months of the full-scale invasion.

The difficult terrain, combined with constant drone surveillance and artillery strikes, has made logistics and troop rotations challenging for both sides.

Ukrainian military officials have previously said Russia currently lacks sufficient forces and capabilities to conduct a large-scale crossing of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region, despite continuing attempts to maintain a military presence on the islands.