2022 Kherson counteroffensive

The Russian offensive in southern Ukraine commenced with the invasion of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv Oblasts, resulting in the capture of several cities, including Melitopol and Kherson. The initial Russian strategy aimed to seize the port city of Odesa but was thwarted after their defeat at the battle of Voznesensk. By early July 2022, Russian forces controlled 95% of Kherson Oblast, 70% of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and 10% of Mykolaiv Oblast.

Following stalled Russian advances, Ukrainian forces began a series of counterattacks, reclaiming eleven settlements in northern Kherson Oblast by the end of March 2022. By 25 July, Ukraine had reportedly retaken 44 towns and villages, amounting to 15 percent of the region's territory. Ukrainian military strategies included disrupting Russian communication lines and conducting minor skirmishes leading up to the counteroffensive.

Ukraine officially announced the full-scale counteroffensive on 29 August 2022, following extensive artillery bombardments and preparatory strikes against Russian targets. By 9 October, Ukrainian forces had recaptured 1,170 square kilometers of territory. On 9 November, Russian troops were ordered to withdraw from Kherson, culminating in the liberation of the city on 11 November.

The Kherson counteroffensive is regarded as the third strategic phase of the war in Ukraine, alongside concurrent operations in the eastern regions. The successful recapture of Kherson not only represented a significant military victory for Ukraine but also had broader implications for the war's trajectory, as it disrupted Russian plans and bolstered Ukrainian morale.

The referendums held by Russian authorities in the occupied territories, including Kherson, were widely condemned by Western governments as illegitimate. The annexation of Kherson, along with other regions, on 5 October 2022, was met with international denunciation, further isolating Russia on the global stage.