After recapturing Kherson from Russian forces and assured of unstinting U.S. support, Ukraine is well positioned to push its advantage in the war rather than accept frozen front lines through winter, some military analysts said.
The strategic and symbolic victory comes as fierce fighting continues further north along more than 1,000 kilometer of front lines, a reminder that even with the vast Dnipro River now separating the enemies around Kherson, other objectives remain in play.
"Ukraine has the initiative and momentum and is dictating to the Russians where and when the next fight will be," said Philip Ingram, a former senior British military intelligence officer.