As Ukraine begins its ninth month of fighting, the south becomes the main focus of Kyiv's forces. The loss of Kherson would be a major embarrassment to Putin, who last month declared it one of four Ukrainian regions annexed to Russia. It would also shatter Russian hopes of taking Mykolaiv and Odesa, to cut off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea. #ukraine #russia #newsy ------------------------------------- Newsy is your source for news and analysis covering the top stories from around the world. With persistent curiosity and no agenda, we strive to fuel meaningful conversations by highlighting multiple sides of every story. It’s news with the why. Join our newsletter at http://bit.ly/2q1tepr See more at http://www.newsy.com/ Like Newsy on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/newsy/ Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/newsy