'Devastated' Frontlines in turmoil as war seeps into Russia

If Vladimir Saldo was trying to project a sense of calm amid the deluged frontline towns and villages of Russian-occupied Kherson region, he was failing miserably. 

- Andrew Roth, Pjotr Sauer

The Kremlin-installed "governor", dressed in camouflage and helmet and sitting in front of the flooded remains of the town centre of Nova Kakhovka, claimed that the city was "alive".

"People are calmly walking around the streets," said Saldo, as the flood waters rose up the walls of the city hall behind him. "I've just driven around the streets, people are working, the gas stations are open, some stores are open."

The reality of the catastrophe was playing out around him: people stranded on the roofs of their houses and flats, begging for those with boats to come and save them. Dozens missing and whole towns downriver washed away. And reports that Russian troops were blocking access to the frontline towns on the left bank of the Dnipro river by installing new checkpoints even as the flood waters continued to rise.

"Everyone is left to fend for themselves, there is no organised evacuation," said Gleb, a resident of Nova Kakhova who was looking for ways to leave the city.

As an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive looms, Russia's frontlines appear to be in serious disarray, as local mismanagement, military infighting, and callous disregard seem to point to serious problems as the war threatens to come home for Russia.