KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed troops in the newly liberated Ukrainian city of Kherson and said that Ukraine is “ready for peace, peace for all our country.”

The president’s appearance in Kherson came just days after Russian troops retreated from the southeastern city.

“Winter will bring a change in conflict conditions for both Russian and Ukrainian forces,” the U.K. Defense Ministry said Monday in an intelligence update posted on Twitter about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Daylight will reduce to fewer than 9 hours a day, compared to 15-16 in the height of summer. This results in fewer offensives and more static defensive frontlines. Night vision capability is a precious commodity,” the report said, “further exacerbating the unwillingness to fight at night.”

“The average high temperature will drop from 13 degrees Celsius through September to November, to zero through December to February. Forces lacking in winter weather clothing and accommodation are highly likely to suffer from non-freezing cold injuries. Additionally, the ‘golden hour’ window in which to save a critically wounded soldier is reduced by approximately half, making the risk of contact with the enemy much greater,” the report said.

Zelenskyy reminded Ukrainians in his daily address Sunday not to forget “that the situation in the Kherson region is still very dangerous.” First of all,” he said, “there are mines…I urge all residents of Kherson to be very careful.”

(VOA)