Topline
Russia on Friday said its forces had completed their withdrawal from the key city of Kherson—one of the first major Ukrainian cities captured by Russian troops—but the collapse of a strategic bridge connecting the southern Ukrainian city the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro river is likely to prevent a rout experienced by Russian troops when they fled Kharkiv in September.
A view of the Ukrainian flag in front of a damaged settlement in Potemkin village which is recently … [+]
Key Facts
Russian state-controlled news agency TASS reported the withdrawal was completed, calling it a “transfer of units and equipment to the left bank of the Dnipro.”
However, a member of the region’s Russian-installed administration told TASS that Ukrainian forces will not be allowed to cross the Dnipro river into territory that still remains under Russian control.
A pursuit of the fleeing Russians by Ukrainian forces across the river—in a repeat of a rapid counter-offensive seen earlier this year in Kharkiv—looks increasingly unlikely amid reports of the collapse of the critical Antonivsky bridge.
According to Ukraine’s public broadcaster, major sections of the bridge have been destroyed and the other major bridge across the river is more than 43 miles away from Kherson, Reuters reported.
The exact cause of the collapse is yet to be established, however unofficial Russian military Telegram channels and blogs have claimed Russian forces destroyed it.
Photos and videos shared by Ukrainian diplomat Olexander Scherba claimed to show Ukrainian forces entering Kherson, while some residents were celebrating downtown with Ukrainian flags.
What We Don’t Know
Russian President Vladimir Putin is yet to publicly address the withdrawal from Kherson. Putin had previously remained silent during other Russian withdrawals during this war, including in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions. The Guardian notes that this is in line with Putin’s unwillingness to associate himself with failure on the battlefield. Moscow on Friday pushed back against the idea that the withdrawal from Kherson was a humiliating loss for Putin and its forces. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia continues to view the whole of Kherson as part of its territory and does not regret holding celebrations last month to mark its annexation. Kherson was one of the four Ukrainian provinces that Russia illegally claimed to annex following what was widely viewed as a sham referendum.
Key Background
Russia first announced its withdrawal from Kherson—the last Ukrainian provincial capital under its control—on Wednesday. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu tried to paint the retreat as a strategic move to “preserve lives of servicemen and combat readiness of forces.” The commander of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Sergey Surovikin, said his forces will now focus on holding a defensive line on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river. Russia’s embarrassing exit from the strategic city coincided with the revelation that Kirill Stremousov, the Kremlin-installed deputy head of Kherson, had been killed in what many see as a mysterious car accident. According to TASS, a “final farewell ceremony” for Stremousov took place on Friday at a church in Simferopol, the capital of the annexed region of Crimea.
Further Reading
Ukrainian forces close in on Kherson City as Russia says retreat is complete (New York Times)
Russia Says It Will Withdraw From Key City Of Kherson—Here’s What It Means For The War In Ukraine (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/11/11/russias-retreat-from-kherson-is-complete-as-strategic-bridge-into-the-city-collapses/