By Ben Kerrigan –
Russia’s military has been ordered to pull out of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, the only regional capital it captured after invading in February.
Russia’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu,(pictured) announced his order of the retreat of Moscow’s forces from the strategically important southern city of Kherson, in a significant blow to President Vladimir Putin’s war effort.The withdrawal was announced shortly after Russian media said the deputy leader of Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, had been killed in a car crash. The loss of Kherson City will be widely perceived as symbol of defeat for the Kremlin, and its ambition to conquer all of southern Ukraine.
Ukraine officials have responded with scepticism that the Russians were going to fully withdraw, but the announcement of withdrawal is itself seen as amounting to a concession of defeat by the Russians. No explicit words have been said to that effect.
Gen. Sergei Surovikin, the commander for Russia’s forces in Ukraine, told Mr. Shoigu that the decision was “difficult”, but emphasised his view that a withdrawal would “preserve lives of servicemen and combat readiness of forces.” Russia had previously announced that it was illegally annexing Ukrainian provinces, including Kherson, which it said would remain Russian territory “forever”.
Pointing out troop movements on a map of Ukraine that was blurred, General Surovokin cited Ukraine’s relentless shelling and the difficulty of maintaining crossing points, and the potential flooding of the area as the main reasons for the pullout.
“Under these conditions, the city of Kherson and nearby settlements cannot be supplied in a fully-fledged manner,” he said. He added, “After a thorough assessment of the current situation, I offer to take up defense along the left bank of the Dnipro River.”
Mr. Shoigu responded, “Go ahead with the pullout of troops and take all measures to ensure safe transfer of troops, weapons and equipment to the other bank of the Dnipro River.”
Russian Retreat
The military had been tracking signs of a Russian retreat through Wednesday but was not convinced the Russian military intended to fully withdraw from Kherson City and the surrounding Russian bridgehead on the western bank of the Dnipro River, according to Roman Kostenko, a colonel in the army and chairman of the defense and intelligence committee in Ukraine’s Parliament.
“We have signs they are pulling out,” Colonel Kostenko said in a telephone interview. “They blew up bridges that would have allowed our forces to advance. We see them leaving population centers, but in some they leave soldiers behind to cover their movements.”
Ukrainian intelligence agencies were working to assess Russia’s movements, he said, and noted that the Russian announcement could be misdirection.
“We are watching,” Colonel Kostenko said.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, was more circumspect and said the country was not relying on “staged TV statements” from the Russians. “Actions speak louder than words,” he wrote on Twitter. “We see no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight.”
Podalyak told reporters from Reuters: “Until the Ukrainian flag is flying over Kherson, it makes no sense to talk about a Russian withdrawal,” a sign of pessimism towards the assignment.
Retreat
A retreat from the city of Kherson would be a major victory for Ukraine, which has long sought to recapture it and push Russian troops from the western bank of the Dnipro. It is the only regional capital to fall to Russian forces since they invaded in February, and the withdrawal would also be a humiliating rout for Mr. Putin, who
Russia’s commander in Ukraine, Gen Sergei Surovikin, said it was no longer possible to keep supplying the city.
“Actions speak louder than words,” said presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.
“We see no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight… [Ukraine] is liberating territories based on intelligence data, not staged TV statements.”
Rumours
All week, reports and rumours that Russia would leave Kherson have been rife.
After Russia’s announcement, civilians inside Kherson said Chechen troops from the Russian military are in the city, in cafes, and moving around the streets.
Another civilian said: “Visually, nothing has changed. On the right bank [western bank] in Kherson, they are almost invisible, and it has been [like that] for several days. They have already taken everything they could.
“There are a lot of them on the left bank, and they are building fortifications along the Dnipro and Plavni.”Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said it was “encouraging” to see Ukraine making advances.
“The gains…belong to the brave, courageous Ukrainian soldiers, but of course the support they receive from the United Kingdom, from Nato allies and partners is also essential,” he said.
However, Ukraine has had some successes of its own by retaking the cities of Izyum and Kupiansk, both key supply hubs for Moscow’s forces.
Both sides had issued public statements signalling a battle ahead. A pro-Russian proxy leader in Kherson said over the weekend that Ukraine was massing artillery, planes and helicopters in preparation for the next stage of its assault on the region.