Russia has ordered a retreat from the city of Kherson, owing to the arrival of Ukrainian forces from 2 directions
In a major setback for Russia, it has ordered a retreat from the key Southern city of Kherson, owing to the arrival of Ukrainian forces from 2 directions.
It was the only regional capital which Russia had captured since its invasion of Ukraine. The order came at a meeting in Russia between the Defense Minister – Sergei Shoigu and the Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine – Gen. Sergei Surovikin.
Russian troops across the Kherson region will withdraw from the west bank of the Dnipro River. The Russian withdrawal would represent the most significant military moment in the war since Ukrainian forces swept through the northern Kharkiv region in September. Ukrainian officials have however remained skeptical that Russian forces had left the west bank altogether.
Taking it to twitter, the Adviser to the Head of the Office Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted,
Actions speak louder than words. We see no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight. A part of the ru-group is preserved in the city, and additional reserves are charged to the region. 🇺🇦 is liberating territories based on intelligence data, not staged TV statements.
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) November 9, 2022
Defending the illegally occupied territory on the West bank of Kherson had become increasingly difficult for the Russians as Ukrainian forces disabled bridges across the Dnipro and attacked Russian supply lines.
Kherson was one of the 4 Ukrainian regions illegally annexed by Russia in September. Once the withdrawal is complete, several thousand square kilometers of that annexed territory will have been surrendered.
Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary General of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) – Jens Stoltenberg said, “The withdrawal demonstrates the courage, the determination, the commitment of Ukrainian armed forces and also the importance of the continued support.”
The Ukrainians forces have entered a nearby village – Kalynivske and that the front line is steadily moving towards Kherson.
Surovikin said that Kherson and adjacent settlements in the current conditions cannot be fully supplied and function. Surovikin claimed that Ukrainian forces are attacking schools, hospitals and civilians in Kherson, who are being evacuated to the other side of the Dnipro river.
However, it is not a Russian defeat, as they would be withdrawing in an organised manner. The Ukrainians will be advancing very cautiously, afraid of some kind of Russian trickery.
He claimed that “between August and October 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost more than 9,500 people in Kherson, a number which is 8 times more than Russian losses. Meanwhile, Russian reporters in Kherson’s north have described withdrawals from some areas.
