Russia to withdraw troops from key Ukrainian city Kherson, a southern city, the only regional capital held by Russian troops.
In a step that may change the dynamics of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Russia on Wednesday declared its withdrawal of forces from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, the only regional capital held by Russian troops since the invasion began in February.,
Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister, ordered the retreat of forces from Kherson in a television announcement Wednesday, suggesting the withdrawal would “preserve lives of servicemen and combat readiness of forces,” according to the Associated Press.
Gen. Sergey Surovikin, who was appointed as the commanding officer of Russia’s invasion in October, reportedly said in the announcement that the military will instead focus on organizing a defense along the Dnipro River across the city’s southern border.
There are doubts among Ukrainian officials whether Russia will actually withdraw and suggested Russia’s military is planning to ambush Ukraine forces as they move closer to the city.
“We see no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted Wednesday, saying also that Ukraine “is liberating territories based on intelligence data, not staged TV statements.”
This withdrawal follows an ongoing Ukrainian counterattack to reclaim areas surrounding Kherson as forces persisted to attack Russian supply lines leading into the city. Last week, Zelenskyy said he was notified of Russian soldiers residing inside vacated apartments within the city–signaling possible preparation for urban warfare.
What is the significance of Kherson?
The shipbuilding city of Kherson is situated around 340 miles from Kyiv along the Dnipro River important for its access to the Black Sea and Crimea and a crucial gateway to invading Russian forces on Ukraine’s southern coastline.
Russia captured Kherson after attacking it in early March, one of Russia’s initial victories after the invasion began in February. Ukraine fought back fiercely and succeeded in pushing back Russian forces across much of the country, freeing more than 75 settlements in the Kherson region.
Yuri Kotyonok, a famous Russian military blogger, believes the withdrawal will harshly impact Russians who support the ongoing war effort in a decision that is “shocking to thousands and millions of people,” as first reported by the New York Times.
Putin had called out 300,000 reservists Putin called up to support the Russian military campaign in September. In an effort to revive the invasion, Putin reportedly said this week that 80,000 additional forces had been sent to Ukraine since late September.
Earlier in the year 2022, Russian soldiers were refusing to fight in Ukraine. When they were told to prepare for a second deployment to Ukraine, fear broke out among the ranks. They say they have nothing to be ashamed of. Russia is not officially in a state of war, so they could not force “us to go.” One soldier said, “I want to return to my family – and not in a casket.” as quoted by The Guardian
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