The Russian army is preparing to advance on Kherson, having gathered 300 boats for crossing the Dnieper, according to the head of the regional administration.

The Russian army is preparing for an offensive on Kherson – they have already gathered 300 boats for crossing the Dnieper, said the head of the regional military administration.

Russia may be gearing up for another offensive on Kherson. The occupiers have assembled 300 boats to cross the Dnieper, stated Alexander Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional State Administration, in a comment to the Financial Times.

"Russia wants to initiate another offensive here. [They have gathered] 300 boats for crossing the river," he said.

Spokesman for the Southern Forces of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, Serhiy Bratchuk, stated that the occupiers are attempting to capture river islands to get closer to the western bank of Kherson, as reported by Liga.

According to him, the Russians recently launched a "major offensive" on the Kazatsky Island, which is near Nova Kakhovka.

As noted by FT, Ukrainian officials suspect that the offensive on Kherson is part of Russia's plan to increase pressure on Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration. They claim that the enemy is trying to bolster their achievements on the front and is preparing for a potential offensive across the Dnieper.

Prokudin also suspects that the Russians are using Kherson for "targeted training."

He pointed out that the enemy has deployed "the best drone units" on the left bank. They are launching advanced drone models over Kherson, refining their combat techniques and training new operators for an intensified invasion.