In the last twenty four hours, Russian Ground Forces have withdrawn from several dozen settlements in the vicinity of Kherson city in both Kherson Oblast and Mykolaiv Oblast. In the last hour, Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate members were reportedly spotted inside of Kherson City as regular ground troops continue their slow advance through the heavily mined oblast. The Ukrainian intelligence outlets have broadcasted messages urging any Russian troops still in the city and oblast to surrender.
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Four hours ago, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the complete withdrawal of some 15,000 troops from Kherson Oblast in a hasty flow of men and supplies across the Dnieper River.
The above imagery purports to show several barges and landing craft transporting Russian troops across the Dnieper. However, as Ukrainian troops continue to advance down the bank of the Dnieper River and from Mykolaiv towards Kherson, significant amounts of war matériel are being captured.
During the overnight withdrawal, several crossing points across the Dnieper River were destroyed by Russian Ground Forces including the Antonivskyy Bridge and the road bridge that is part of the Nova Khakovka Hydro-Electric Dam.
These developments, coupled with with the Russian Ministry of Defense’s announcement two days ago that the defenses of Kherson are untenable, indicates that new defensive positions will be established on the Crimean side of the Dnieper River. In fact, new tranches have already been spotted near Armiansk, Crimea.
However, several Russia State Duma members and even Presidential Spokesperson Peskov have claimed that Russian forces will return and that Kherson will forever be a part of Russia. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have claimed that several hundred service members have been transferred from the East to reinforce the new defenses in and around Crimea. In the next 24-48 hours, we can expect to continue to see the slow advance of Ukrainian Ground Forces and a large presence of troops in Kherson city center.
Kherson was the first major Ukrainian city to be captured by Russian Ground Forces in early March, 2022. Its recapture is a major victory for the Ukrainians, and may give them additional bargaining power as Western allies reportedly push Kyiv to enter into negotiations with Moscow. President Zelensky has reportedly told his advisers that the removal of Russian President Putin from Power is no longer a requirement for a negotiated peace, but the complete restoration of Ukrainian borders is.
