Kathmandu,

July 26,

With soldiers, artillery and subversives, Ukraine has been laying the groundwork to retake Kherson, which Russia has held for months. But a counterattack would require huge resources, and could come at a heavy toll.

Along a jagged frontline, Ukrainian forces are preparing for what is one of the most ambitious and significant military actions of the war: retaking Kherson. The first city to fall to Russian forces, Kherson and the fertile lands that surround it are a key Russian beachhead, from which its military continuously launches attacks across a broad swath of Ukrainian territory. Regaining control could also help restore momentum to Ukraine, and give its troops a much-needed morale boost after months of vicious fighting.