Dachi, Ukraine

Place in Kherson Oblast, Ukraine

Dachi Дачі
An aerial view of the Antonivka Road Bridge, with Dachi on the far bank
46°39′49.88″N 32°43′24.62″E / 46.6638556°N 32.7235056°E / 46.6638556; 32.7235056
Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Kherson Oblast
Raion	Kherson Raion

Dachi (Ukrainian: Дачі) is an unincorporated settlement in southern Ukraine on the left bank of the Dnipro river. It is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the city of Kherson, within the territory of Kherson Raion, Kherson Oblast. It is located near the Antonivka Road Bridge. It is a vacation town, where many of the city's wealthier residents own summer homes (dachas).^[1]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the village was captured by Russian forces as part of the Southern offensive.^[2]^{[failed verification]}

On April 23, 2023, it was reported by the Institute for the Study of War and the Associated Press that the village had been liberated by an incursion during the Dnieper campaign on the night of April 20 and 21.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

The Antonivsky island, on which the village is situated, would be completely submerged following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on 6 June 2023.^[6] During the flooding, Russian forces looted the houses of the village, and scavenged the locals' boats for parts and engines.^[1] In late June Russian sources claimed that the village was recaptured by the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the 2023 counteroffensive.^[7]

Despite repeated claims from Russian authorities and propagandists, such as Igor Girkin, that Ukrainian forces had been removed from the Island, Russian forces retreated following the arrival of Ukrainian reinforcements on July 11. After withdrawing from Antonivsky island, Russian milbloggers called the retreat "justified" and "measured" citing the island's swampy nature and constant Ukrainian artillery bombardments as making the village heavily defensible.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b Crawford, Alex. "Elderly Ukrainians weep after escaping floodwaters and Russian fire". Sky News. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Russian shelling as Ukraine forces reportedly cross Dnieper River". Al Jazeera. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 23, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
^ "Expectations Rise Of Ukrainian Counteroffensive After Unconfirmed Reports Of Dnieper Crossing". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
^ "Ukrainian troop positions spark counteroffensive speculation". CNBC. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
^ Leatherby, Lauren; Gamio, Lazaro; Hernandez, Marco; Willis, Haley (6 June 2023). "Mapping the Flooding From the Dam Breach in Southern Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
^ Harding, Luke (June 26, 2023). "Ukrainian troops reportedly reclaim territory in Kherson province". The Guardian.
^ Bailey, Riley; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Barros, George; Evans, Angelica; Kagan, Frederick W. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 11, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 12 July 2023.