MYKOLAIV, Ukraine – The Russian Defense Ministry announced Friday that it had completed the withdrawal of its forces from the western bank of the river that separates Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, which includes the only provincial capital taken by Moscow since the invasion the neighboring country. Russia asserts troops have left .
According to a statement carried by Russian state media sources, the withdrawal was finalized at 5 a.m. on Friday, and no military equipment was left behind. Despite this, Russia’s 8 1/2-month conflict in Ukraine has suffered another major setback.
The Kremlin stood firm on Friday, asserting that the development did not embarrass Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow still considers the entire Kherson area to be part of Russia. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman stated to reporters.
The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized the situation in the Kherson region as “difficult” shortly before the Russian announcement. It disclosed Russian shelling of a number of towns and villages recaptured by Ukrainian troops in the Kherson area in recent weeks.
Ukrainian officials have been wary of Russia’s announcement this week, fearing that their troops would be drawn into an ambush in Kherson, that had a pre – war population of 280,000 people. Military experts forecasted that Russia’s military would need at least a week to finalize the withdrawal of troops.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak stated on Thursday that receding Russian troops planted mines all through Kherson in order to make it a “city of death.” He also forecasted that they’d shell the city following the relocation across the Dnieper River.
Previously having cautioned that the Russian retreat could be a trap, some members of Ukraine’s government couldn’t hide their delight at the speed of the withdrawal.
“The Russian army leaves the frontlines in triathlon mode: steeplechase, broad jumping, swimming,” senior presidential adviser Andriy Yermak tweeted. Villagers were seen hugging Ukrainian troops in social media videos apparently shot by soldiers on their way to Kherson.
Retaking the city would give Ukraine a strong base from which to launch a southern military campaign against other Russian-occupied areas, which include Crimea, which Moscow captured in 2014.
Nevertheless, from troops its new positions on the eastern bank, the Kremlin could try to escalate tensions, which according to US estimates has already killed or injured tens of thousands of people as well as hundreds of thousands of troops.
According to Zelenskyy’s office, a Russian S-300 missile strike overnight killed six people in Mykolaiv, a city approximately 68 kilometers (42 miles) from Kherson’s provincial capital.
Rescuers combed the rubble of a five-story housing complex for survivors. Roman Mamontov, 16, stood at the front of what was once his family’s apartment, waiting for news regarding his missing mother.
When Mamontov launched an apartment door to search for his mother after the missile hit, he said he found “nothing in there.” Her 34th birthday was on Friday, according to the adolescent.
“At the time, my mind was blank. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “The cake she made for the occasion is still there.”
Zelenskyy referred to the missile strike as “the terrorist state’s cynical response to our successes at the front lines.”
“Russia will not abandon its heinous tactics.” We’ll also not give up the fight. “The occupants will be held accountable for every crime committed against Ukraine as well as Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy declared.
According to the president’s office, Russian drones, rockets, and heavy artillery fire across eight regions killed a total of 14 civilians between Thursday and Friday. Russia asserts troops have left.
Overnight, over 50 rockets were launched in the Dnipropetrovsk region, near towns and cities situated across the Dnieper River from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as stated by Governor Valentyn Reznichenko.
The state of the Antonivskiy Bridge, which connects the western and eastern banks of the Dnieper in the Kherson region, remained a mystery Friday, and may be crucial in figuring out if all Russians left Kherson city.
According to Russian media stories, the bridge was blown to bits after Russia withdrew; pro-Kremlin news outlets posted clips of the bridge missing a sizable portion. But, according to Sergei Yeliseyev, a Russian-installed official in the Kherson area, “the Antonivskiy Bridge is still not blown up; it remains in the same condition.”
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