Ukraine Hoists Flag In Kherson Amid Chaotic Russian Retreat

Russia’s retreat from the key strategic city of Kherson appeared to have descended into chaotic scenes amid reports of wounded soldiers being abandoned, Ukrainian shelling of troop crossings across the Dnipro River, and some Russian units being told to escape any way they can.

An estimated 20,000 Russian troops had been stationed on the west side of the Dnipro in and around Kherson city before the now hurriedly announced retreat.

Images also emerged showing a large Ukrainian flag had been hung up in Kherson city centre overnight, possibly by partisans who have been active in the city, as residents largely stayed indoors and some Russian reports suggested Ukrainian special forces had entered the city.

With Ukrainian estimates suggesting that half of those soldiers had been withdrawn across the river by Thursday evening, footage posted on Russian social media channels suggested panic in some units as they scrambled to escape.

Russia had on Wednesday announced it was withdrawing from the west bank of the Dnipro that includes Kherson city, the only regional capital Moscow has captured since invading Ukraine in February.

But amid the chaotic situation, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed it had completed the withdrawal of troops from the western bank of the Dnipro river in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, the TASS news agency reported.

In its daily briefing cited by Russian news agencies, the Ministry said all Russian forces and equipment had been transferred to the left, or eastern, bank of the Dnipro river, adding that the withdrawal was completed by 0500 Moscow time (0200 GMT) on Friday morning.

On Wednesday, November 9, the Russian authorities ordered the withdrawal of troops, admitting that attempts to maintain its position and supply troops were “futile” in the face of a mounting Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The Ministry also said on Friday there was not a single piece of military hardware or soldier left on the western side of the river, which includes the regional capital Kherson, and that it had not suffered any loss of personnel or equipment during the withdrawal. – The Guardian reports