Ukrainian troops re-enter Kherson

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 11 Nov 2022 by Alex Teddy

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On November 11 Russia announced that it had completed its withdrawal to the east of the River Dnipro. Kherson was the only Ukrainian regional capital that Russia managed to seize. Russia held it for almost 9 months. Ukraine's regaining it is significant. Russia blew up the Antonivsky Bridge in the wee hours of November 11. Russia retreated in good order and claimed to have suffered no losses in moving 30,000 troops across the river. The Russian retreat was deftly executed and they took all their equipment with them. The Ukrainians say they hit some retreating Russian units by using long range artillery. Ukraine is elated and hailed the news as a triumph. Kherson is festooned with the Ukrainian Flag. Some civilians are still there. Kherson was cut off from water and electricity. Mobile phone and internet networks are down. This seems to have been Russian sabotage. Ukraine had feared that Russian troops would be dressed in civilian clothes and hiding in buildings, and that there would be many booby traps. So far these fears seem to have been misplaced. The booby-trap-and-stay-behind story seems to have been Russian disinformation to stop the Ukrainians pursuing the Russians. Retreat like this is a very risky operation and can easily turn into a rout. The Kremlin insists that Kherson is still Russian sovereign soil. There has been conjecture that a secret deal was done regarding the retreat from Kherson Ukraine will find it very hard to advance to the east of the Dnipro River. Russia will heavily defend it. The Russian retreat from Kherson allows Russia more troops to send to other fronts. Some Russian sources have told the media that there will be serious consequences wi...