Russia withdraws from Kherson and will build defenses along the Dnieper

The commander of the Russian grouping in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin, suggested that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu withdraw troops in the Kherson region to the left bank of the Dnieper. This will mean the surrender of the city of Kherson. Shoigu agreed with this proposal.

In his report to Shoigu, which was shown on Russian television, Surovikin referred to the difficulties of supplying the Russian group on the right bank of the Dnieper. He also suggested that part of the troops would be deployed in other directions. According to Surovikin, defenses have been built along the Dnieper.

The Russian occupation authorities offered the residents of the right bank of the Dnieper to leave for the left-bank regions in the second half of October. At the same time, Surovikin said that “difficult decisions” were possible regarding the fate of Kherson. Russian state institutions, monuments to Soviet and Russian figures, the ashes of Prince Grigory Potemkin-Tavrichesky were evacuated from Kherson. Russian flags were removed from administrative buildings. At the same time, it was officially stated until the last moment that the city was being prepared for defense.

On Wednesday, even before Surovikin’s speech, reports began to come in of an offensive by Ukrainian forces in the Snigirevka area of ​​the Mykolaiv region north of Kherson. It was also reported that the Russian military blew up several bridges on the right bank of the Dnieper.

On Wednesday, according to official reports, Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian administration of the Kherson region, died in an accident.

Kherson was taken by Russian troops in early March. It was the only regional center of Ukraine taken during the so-called special operation. In early October, the Russian authorities announced the annexation of the Kherson region. After the withdrawal of Russian troops across the Dnieper, about half of its territory will be under the control of Ukraine.