Kherson fell quickly, but Ukraine’s progress east of the Dnipro will be harder

Forcing out Russia with minimal civilian casualties was an achievement, helped by the city's isolated position

Ukraine's swift recapture of Kherson, whose abandonment was only announced publicly by the Russians on Wednesday, sets the stage for a critical phase in the war. An autumn of territorial concessions by Moscow leaves Russia occupying a core block of territory - the land bridge to Crimea - that Ukraine will want to split and inflict on the invaders a catastrophic political defeat.

At first, it will be necessary for Ukraine to consolidate its gains in and around Kherson, restore power and other utilities, although there is no serious land threat, now that the retreating Russian forces have blown up so much of the principal Antonivsky road and rail bridges that led into the city several hundred metres across the Dnipro River, the barrier on which the Russians now hope to rely.