Ukrainian Kherson ... Humiliated Moscow
"Kherson is returning to the control of Ukraine, Units of the armed forces of Ukraine are entering the city.""The Russian occupiers' routes of retreat are under the direct fire of the Ukrainian Army.""Any Russian soldier who resists will be killed."Ukrainian Defense Ministry"In total, more than 30,000 Russian servicemen, about 5,000 pieces of hardware, and military equipment and materiel have been withdrawn.""Not a single piece of military equipment or weaponry was left on the right [western] bank."Russian Defense Ministry"[Russian troops] have been changing into civilian clothes for two weeks.""This should focus our forces as it means saboteur operations cannot be ruled out.""Because of this, we are not rushing to announce our successes in other directions and in other towns."Natalya Humenyuk, head, joint coordination press center, Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine"The Russian invaders continue to loot the settlements from which they are retreating.""The enemy is also attempting to damage power lines and other elements of the transport and critical infrastructure of the Kherson region as much as possible.""[Russian mines continue to wound civilians]."Ukrainian General Staff"Today is a historic day. We are returning Kherson. As of now, our defenders are on the approaches to the city. But special units are already in the city.""Today we have good news from the south. The number of Ukrainian flags returning to their rightful place within the framework of the ongoing defense operation is already dozens."Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskii
The
advance units of the Ukrainian military entering Kherson were met with
joy from residents in the centre of Kherson following the Russian
abandonment of the sole regional capital captured in the early days of
the 'special military operation' that brought a scorched-earth war to
Ukraine, courtesy of the Kremlin. Russia had announced that not one
piece of Russian military equipment had been left behind, all taken off
by the retreating Russian military, ordered to leave the city that
Vladimir Putin had mere weeks earlier declared a permanent part of
Russia
Instead
of the orderly military retreat ordered by Moscow, and described by the
Russian military command, the Ukrainian military described a scene of
chaotic retreat, Russian troops leaving their uniforms behind,
abandoning weapons, and in their panic diving into the Dnieper River and
drowning.
The Russian military command spoke of withdrawing 30,000 troops, and not a single soldier was lost, they boasted.
Videos
showed Ukrainians chanting victory slogans in Kherson's central square
welcoming the first Ukrainian troops to arrive. Kherson returned to
Ukrainian control as Ukraine's defence intelligence agency ordered any
remaining Russian troops to surrender to the Ukrainian forces entering
the city. During one of the most rapid, humiliating of Russian retreats,
villagers emerged from hiding, describing Russian troops killing
residents and looting homes.
Some
20 jukinetres north of Kherson, Ukrainian soldiers took over positions
in the recaptured village of Riahodatne where at the entrance of the
village, Ukrainian troops assessed a large stockpile of 120 mm
mortarshells left by the retreating Russians in a dilapidated warehouse.
A large number of Russian soldiers had reportedly drowned in the
Dnieper in their attempt to escape, while others had changed into
civilian clothing. Residents were advised not to leave their homes
during searches for remaining Russian troops.
"Saboteur operations cannot be ruled out",
by Russian troops in civilian clothes, cautioned Natalia Humenuk
speaking for the southern command of the Ukrainian military. According
to pro-Russian war bloggers, Russian forces were crossing the river and
coming under heavy fire from Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian forces,
according to the Russian ministry, had struck Dniepro River crossings
five times overnight with HIMARS rocket systems.
The
advance of Ukrainian troops was as surprising as the hurried departure
of the Russian troops; both in rapid order. In Ukraine's instance far
more so than officials had suggested, leaving Defence Minister Oleksii
Reznikov to speculate it could take a week for Russia to pull entirely
out of the Kherson region, estimating that Russia still had some 40,000
troops in the region, with intelligence confirming Russian forces
remained in and around the region.
President Zelensky with soldiers on Monday. 14 November Reuters |
Labels: Kherson, Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Russian Withdrawal, Southern Ukraine, Ukrainian couunteroffensive
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