'Onslaught Of Retaliatory Fire': Ukraine's Aircraft Attacks Russian Stronghold, Concentration Of Troops

Ukraine's attack aircraft has hit a Russian stronghold and a concentration of troops in Kherson Oblast, Pivden [South] Operational Command wrote on Facebook.

"The enemy continues to build defenses. Their ability to conduct combat operations is limited due to the demoralization of personnel, problems with logistics, and the skillful work of our rocket and artillery units," the Pravda reported, citing the statement. "The enemy has made two attempts to conduct an airstrike on the liberated territories in northern Kherson Oblast. But following an attack on our positions, [the enemy] immediately retreated under the onslaught of retaliatory fire."

The two airstrikes caused damages to an ammunition supply point, which Russian forces had set up at the Chaika sanatorium on the Black Sea coast, the Ukrinform reported.

After recent attacks in the region, Ukrainian authorities told the residents to evacuate Kherson as their forces prepared a counteroffensive to retake southern territory lost to Russia. Many locals were seen fleeing the region by bikes, with some traveling by foot as well.

"It is a very long journey, because the roads are terrible," Inna Kravchenko, 52, a resident fleeing with her mother from Vysokopillia, a village in southern Ukraine now under Russian control, said, according to NPR.

According to the United Nations, more than 15 million Ukrainians have fled their homes since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24. Military attacks from both sides have trapped Ukrainian residents living under Russian control.

"Speaking about what is happening directly in Kherson direction, we are advancing there. Maybe we are not moving as fast as those who present positive news would like, but believe me, these steps are very confident. And that is why they are taken in silence and certain confidentiality – in order to gain a foothold in these territories and then announce our victories," Natalia Humeniuk, head of the press center of the Operational Command "South," said on air of the Espreso TV channel, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"But we understand that the enemies may leave more threatening ‘surprises’ in the territories they left. Like it was with Snake Island, which the Russians continue to attack with aircraft and try to find out what is actually happening there and bomb it from time to time though failing to hit the island," Humeniuk informed.