Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky released a video filmed at a Kherson sign saying he ordered an expansion of the city's defensive capabilities.
- Kherson governor Vladimir Saldo wrote on Telegram that the image and video "cause only ridicule" and indicate a poor situation for Ukrainian troops in the city.
- Saldo tied the appearance to President Donald Trump's recent comments about potentially ending U.S. funding for Ukraine and claimed similar Zelensky frontline visits preceded Ukrainian setbacks, a pattern not independently verified in these reports.
- RIA Novosti and TASS amplified Saldo's remarks and restated Russia's claim to Kherson Oblast based on a 2022 referendum that Ukraine rejects.
- RIA Novosti reported that about 75% of the oblast is under Russian control, while Ukrainian forces hold areas on the Dnipro's right bank including the city of Kherson.