Russia has decided to withdraw its troops from the right bank of the Dnieper River, including the regional capital of Kherson. The Defense Ministry explained that it wants to avoid unnecessary losses among its forces and spare the lives of civilians.

While admitting that the decision is not an easy one, the commanders see little sense in keeping the troops on the right bank, the chief of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, General Army General Sergey Surovikin, told Defense Minister Sergey Schoigu on Wednesday. The general pointed to continued Ukrainian attacks on the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric dam on the Dnieper River, arguing that it could leave the Russian troops in Kherson cut off from the rest of the force with no way to escape.

A pullout would help save lives of the Russian soldiers and keep the combat effectiveness of the force grouping in the area, Surovikin said.

This is a very difficult decision. Yet, we would be able to preserve the most important thing: lives of our soldiers.

“Start the pullback of forces,” Shoigu told Surovikin in a video released by media outlets. The minister ordered the general to organize secure relocation for both soldiers and civilians.

Over the past weeks, the local authorities have launched an effort to bring as many civilians as possible to the left bank of Dnieper, citing a threat posed by Ukrainian forces located on the opposite side. Over 150,000 people had been moved out of the city as of today, according to Sorovikin.

Russia incorporated Kherson Region last month, after residents voted in a referendum to break away from Ukraine and seek accession to Russia. Kiev rejected the vote as a “sham” and pledged to use military force to recapture all territories it considers to be under its sovereignty.

  • @Mzuark
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    171 year ago

    Ukraine’s Nazi militiase are fighting a desperate extermination campaign utilizing human shields and humiliation tactics. Since they’re running low on shields and personnel, they’re starting to fall back on terrorism, meanwhile the Russians are actually doing what they can to avoid mass civillian casualties. As much as the atrocity propaganda portrays the Ruskies as butchers, I don’t think most people understand that they could easily flatten Kyiv within a day if they wanted too.

    Keep in mind that we’re not supposed to see any of this. That’s why combat footage is so sparse except for clips of drones or artilery hitting a single guy or a small group (Reddit wholesome 100 overkill). The camera’s stay on Zelensky to distract from the truth that Ukraine’s army has fallen apart. Personally, I wouldn’t be shocked if NATO forces were already on the ground doing the fighting at this point.

    • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆
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      121 year ago

      Yeah, the fact that it took Russia whole seven months to start going after infrastructure shows that they have been fighting with one hand tied behind their back here.

      We already have confirmation that US troops are in Ukraine, and it would be shocking if they didn’t participate in combat action. Specifically, all the NATO equipment that gets sent to Ukraine needs trained personnel to operate. There is no way to train up Ukrainians on it because it takes many months if not years to do so.

    • @chjzunawd
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      41 year ago

      We say Kiev here! Like god intended

      • @Mzuark
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        11 year ago

        I knew by day 3 that we were witnessing extreme media manipulation. Even in Iraq and Afghanistan you saw evidence of huge firefights, but in Ukraine it’s just small groups of guys being hit with artilery.