Russian forces have begun to withdraw from the western bank of the Dnipro River in the southern Kherson region.
Ukraine’s military command said 2,000 Russian soldiers had been ordered to cover the withdrawal, and Western analysts warned that Russia could blow up a dam in Kherson to slow the Ukrainian advance.
“The Russian withdrawal from the western Kherson region has begun,” announced the Institute for the Study of War based in the USA. “Russian forces likely intend to continue that withdrawal over the next several weeks,” he added.
Russia’s defense ministry has not commented, but in an interview last week, Russia’s top commander in Ukraine said “difficult decisions” would have to be made.
Ukrainian artillery strikes have destroyed several bridges over the Dnipro River, making it increasingly difficult for Russia to resupply its forces along the southern front and making withdrawal difficult.
Otherwise, Ukraine launched an offensive in August to retake the Kherson region.