Russia may attempt to recapture Kherson. Moscow forces are relentlessly shelling Kherson, while Western media warn that Moscow may be preparing an airborne assault on the liberated city within weeks, in a move to reverse its 2022 liberation.

On 2 August, Russians launched a powerful strike on a strategically important bridge connecting the island district of Korabel to the main part of Kherson city. The strike also damaged three private homes and an apartment building. The invaders had previously targeted the bridge, forcing about 1,800 residents to leave their homes.

Civilians injured as Russia strikes Kherson again

On 8 August, Russian troops launched artillery strikes on central Kherson, critically wounding an elderly woman. She suffered a concussion, multiple shrapnel injuries, and lost an arm. Doctors say her condition is life-threatening, the regional administration reports.

The same day in Antonivka, a suburb of Kherson, Russian drones dropped explosives on two men, aged 33 and 36. Both suffered blast injuries, says the Kherson City Council. 

One of the most shocking attacks involved a 13-year-old boy who was struck by a drone while walking down the street, according to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin. 

“He sustained a blast injury and shrapnel wounds to his arm and leg,” he said. 

The child was hospitalized and is receiving medical care.

Also in the district suffering the most from attacks, Korabel, due to Russia’s attack on the power grid, water supply will be provided for only two hours per day. 

CNN: Russia could launch an airborne operation in Kherson

According to the report, the Kremlin may be preparing to land troops in Kherson in the coming weeks to reclaim the city that Ukraine liberated in 2022.

Roughly 72% of Kherson Oblast remains under Russian occupation, mostly the left bank of the Dnipro River. The Ukrainian-controlled right bank includes the city of Kherson itself. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military analysts say a Russian amphibious operation in Kherson would be highly risky and unlikely to succeed.

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From frontline to warehouse. New Pentagon memo allows redirecting weapons meant for Ukraine back to the US, despite US President Donald Trump publicly endorsing a new supply plan, CNN reports. 

This could mean “that anything short of the president saying go ahead might not get through,” the person said.

Previously, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth already halted a large weapons shipment to Ukraine. Although Trump announced a deal with NATO whereby Europeans would pay for US weapons bound for Ukraine, the Pentagon can be depended on the decision of one person. 

Under the new memo, equipment designated for Ukraine may never reach the front. This includes intercept missiles, air defense systems, and artillery shells, all which is critically needed by Ukraine’s military.

The USAI program, which has reliably supplied Ukraine with arms since 2016, recently received $800 million in new funding under the National Defense Authorization Act. But even that is now in question as sources aren’t sure the weapons will actually reach Kyiv.

“But it’s unclear whether the weapons produced with that money will ultimately go to Ukraine under the new Pentagon policy,” sources told CNN.

 

Separately from USAI, the Pentagon still holds $4 billion in authorized funds to ship weapons directly from US stockpiles.

In Congress, Republicans Roger Wicker and Jim Risch have introduced a bill to establish a special fund that allies can contribute to in order to replenish US weapons sent to Ukraine.

At the same time, the US and NATO are developing a new mechanism — a NATO bank account — where allies would deposit funds specifically to buy American weapons for Kyiv. 

NATO allies have already begun filling the account: according to Secretary General Mark Rutte, more than $1 billion has been allocated, with the total expected to reach $10 billion. But even that may not guarantee the weapons will reach Ukrainian soldiers, not if the Pentagon decides to replenish its own stockpiles first.

Ukraine remains in dangerous limbo. The Pentagon memo could change the course of the war — if the word “go” never comes.