Russian troops intend to withdraw artillery from the right bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region, the General Staff of Ukraine reported on October 30. The units stationed there may be transferred to other areas of the front, Kyiv Independent reports.
The Russian military is also trying to create “unsuitable conditions” for residents of the occupied districts of the Kherson region. In the city of Nova Kakhovka, for example, the Internet and mobile communications are reportedly cut off, and local entrepreneurs have been ordered to close their grocery stores until November.
On October 18, the Moscow-appointed governor of the Kherson region, Volodymyr Saldo, announced the “organized transfer of the civilian population” from the municipalities around Kherson to the territory of the “left bank of the Dnieper.” He said that all Russian separatists, including himself, would move.
However, according to the head of Ukraine’s intelligence, Kyril Budanov, Russian troops are creating the illusion that they are leaving Kherson; instead, they are drawing new military units there to prepare for defense.
Budanov called the evacuation of the most famous pro-Russian separatists and resettlement of civilians announced on October 18 “an information-manipulative operation in many aspects”, adding that it is impossible to say for sure that “they are now fleeing from Kherson”. .
According to Ukrainian officials, last week the Russian military began retreating from Kherson.
“They are moving their elite units and officers from the west bank, leaving only those who are mobilized and not in need,” Ukrainian army spokeswoman Nataliya Humeniuk said last Sunday.
The Institute for the Study of War reported last Saturday that the Russians began retreating from western Kherson Oblast. Russian forces likely intend to continue this withdrawal over the next few weeks, but may have difficulty withdrawing in an orderly manner if Ukrainian forces decide to attack, ISW explained at the time.
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Source: Hot News RO
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