The drive to recapture the Russian-occupied city of Kherson symbolizes Ukraine's cautious resolve, the Guardian's defense and security editor Dan Sabbagh writes today.

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According to him, the counter-offensive announced by Kyiv this week to push the Russians out of the only city they have captured west of the Dnieper has created uncertainty in tracking how the operation develops, regardless of whether it will be successful.

The author quoted leading presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich as saying that "quick victories" should not be expected in the counterattack in the south - something that was noted today by Western representatives.

The article cited anonymous sources as saying that Ukrainian forces "pushed back" Russian defenses "in several places."

But the sources stressed that it was too early to name captured villages or indicate the extent of territory recaptured.

Ukraine struck back at the occupiers

This caution may be realistic, but it is also indicative, writes the expert.

This is clearly not a "blitzkrieg" or a broad-front attack, but rather localized attempts to strike what appear to be the most vulnerable strategic points along the Russian front line, or to demonstrate that Ukraine is capable of challenging the places Russian retreat before the onset of winter.

This would prove the ability of Kyiv to act actively with the ultimate goal of restoring control over Kherson, believes the author of "Guardian".

He recalls that in recent weeks, Ukraine has taken preparatory actions - several strikes on strategic bridges leading to Kherson, on ammunition depots and posts in the Russian rear east of the Dnieper, in Kherson and even in the occupied Crimea.

The strikes were carried out from a distance with the Hymars and Em-270 missile systems supplied by the West.

But while these eye-catching attacks wreak havoc on Russian logistics, they will give Russia time to send in reinforcements.

According to the latest estimates of Western intelligence, the number of occupiers west of the great river has increased by several thousand and has already reached 20 thousand.

That is, the supply lines have not yet been seriously damaged, the author concludes.

Russian invasion of Ukraine