Economist Podcasts Ready, steady, slow: Ukraine’s bid for Kherson
Sep 1, 2022
Oliver Carroll, Ukraine correspondent based in Kyiv, shares insights on Ukraine's strategic counter-offensive in Kherson, highlighting the careful planning behind military operations to reclaim this vital region. Alice Fulwood, Wall Street correspondent, delves into the dominance of Visa and Mastercard in the electronic payments space, discussing how high interchange fees impact retailers and consumers. The conversation also touches on the ethical concerns surrounding the harvesting of horseshoe crab blood in the biomedical industry and the quest for sustainable alternatives.
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Kherson's Importance
- Kherson is strategically important as a gateway to Black Sea ports or Crimea, depending on perspective.
- Its agricultural significance and symbolic resistance add to its value for Ukraine.
Counteroffensive Strategy
- Ukraine's counteroffensive involved softening Russian defenses, disrupting logistics, and attacking multiple frontline points.
- A key breakthrough northeast of Kherson's center saw some elite Russian troops fleeing.
Avoiding Direct Assault
- Ukraine avoids directly retaking Kherson city to prevent Russian shelling from across the river.
- The offensive aims to weaken Russian positions, encircle troops on the Dnipro's west bank, and force a retreat.