Russia Says It Will Withdraw From Key City Of Kherson—Here’s What It Means For The War In Ukraine

Topline

Russia on Wednesday announced its withdrawal of forces from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, the lone regional capital held by Russian troops since the invasion began in February, in a blow to President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to annex the region.

Russia announced it will withdraw its military from Kherson City.

AFP via Getty Images Key Facts

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister, ordered the retreat of forces from Kherson in a television announcement Wednesday, suggesting the withdrawal would “preserve lives of servicemen and combat readiness of forces,” according to the Associated Press.

Gen. Sergey Surovikin, who was appointed as the commanding officer of Russia’s invasion in October, reportedly said in the announcement that the military will instead focus on organizing a defense along the Dnipro River across the city’s southern border.

Though Russia has publicly announced the removal of forces from Kherson, Ukrainian officials have cast doubts on whether Russia will actually withdraw and suggested Russia’s military is planning to ambush Ukraine forces as they move closer to the city.

In October, Russia began moving thousands of civilians out of the city by boat.

Chief Critic

“We see no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted Wednesday, adding that Ukraine “is liberating territories based on intelligence data, not staged TV statements.”

Tangent

The withdrawal follows an ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive to reclaim areas surrounding Kherson as forces continued to target Russian supply lines leading into the city. Last week, Zelenskyy said he was notified of Russian soldiers residing inside vacated apartments within the city–signaling possible preparation for urban warfare.

Key Background

The shipbuilding city of Kherson is located about 340 miles from Kyiv along the Dnipro River, and is noted for its access to the Black Sea and Crimea, while also working as a gateway to invading Russian forces on Ukraine’s southern coastline. Russia captured the city after an assault in early March, one of Russia’s initial victories after the invasion began in February. Since then, Ukraine has pushed back Russian forces across much of the country, liberating more than 75 settlements in the Kherson region. A retreat from the area would present a hurdle to Putin’s attempt to illegally annex large parts of southern and eastern Ukraine in September. It’s also a significant symbolic defeat: Yuri Kotyonok, a prominent Russian military blogger, believes the withdrawal will severely affect Russians who support the ongoing war effort in a decision that is “shocking to thousands and millions of people,” as first reported by the New York Times.

Big Number

300,000. That’s the number of reservists Putin called up to support the Russian military campaign in September. In an effort to revitalize the invasion, Putin reportedly said this week 80,000 additional forces had been sent to Ukraine since late September.

Further Reading

The Russian Army Appears To Be Pulling Out Of Kherson (Forbes)

Russia Says It’s Withdrawing From Kherson City, A Potential Blow To Moscow (New York Times)

Why Control of Kherson Is Important To Russia And Ukraine (New York Times)