Iran Press/ Europe: In televised comments at a meeting of senior military leaders, General Sergei Surovikin, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, in overall war command, said it was no longer possible to keep Kherson city supplied.
"Having comprehensively assessed the current situation, it is proposed to take up defence along the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River," said Surovikin, adding that “I understand that this is a very difficult decision, but at the same time, we will preserve the most important thing – the lives of our servicemen and, in general, the combat effectiveness of the group of troops, which it is futile to keep on the right bank in a limited area".
Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu also echoed the comments and said, “I agree with your conclusions and proposals. Proceed with the withdrawal of troops and take all measures to transfer forces across the river.”
The announcement came hours after the Russian-installed deputy head of Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, was reportedly killed in a car crash after weeks of urging residents to evacuate the area.
This move marks one of Russia’s most significant retreats since the war began.
The withdrawal means Russian forces will pull out entirely from the western bank of the River Dnipro.
"In these circumstances, the most sensible option is to organise the defence along a barrier line along the river Dnipro," Gen Surovikin said.
Although the Ukrainian advance had slowed in recent weeks, Russia's supply lines across the Dnipro had become increasingly difficult after the few bridges across the Dnipro river were destroyed by Ukrainian missiles.
Ahead of the withdrawal, Russia moved thousands of civilians out of the city by boat, in what Ukraine condemned as forced deportation.
Ukraine's reaction to Russian withdrawal from Kherson
A senior adviser to Ukraine’s president has said it is too early to talk about a Russian troop withdrawal from the southern city of Kherson.
“Until the Ukrainian flag is flying over Kherson, it makes no sense to talk about a Russian withdrawal,” Mykhailo Podolyak told the Reuters news agency.
Podolyak said some of Moscow’s troops remained in the region and alleged that Russian commanders were pouring in additional manpower in the face of a continuing Ukrainian counteroffensive.
A Ukrainian victory in the Black Sea region would cut off the land bridge that the Kremlin established from Russia to Crimea, the peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014.
It would also return Ukraine's important access to the Sea of Azov and leave Russian President Vladimir Putin with little to show from a campaign that has turned him into a pariah in the eyes of the West.
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