One scenario is that Russia would withdraw from Kherson before winter and strengthen its forces in Donbas. reporter Antti Kuronen reports from the scene.
Evidence of Russia’s withdrawal talks can be seen in the Dnieper River, says ‘s reporter Antti Kuronen on the spot from eastern Ukraine.
– Yesterday, Russia destroyed many bridges in the Kherson region. Bridges are destroyed when retreating or fleeing, Kuronen tells morning via video link.
Kuronen himself is currently in the city of Kryvyi Rih, which is located north of the Kherson region.
Kuronen also says that he saw video clips today where Russian troops are moving across the huge Dnieper to the east.
– So yes, here Russia has started to withdraw from Kherson, but how long it will take, you can’t know for sure.
According to some estimates, Russia may have up to 40,000 soldiers in the Kherson region, says Kuronen.
Ukraine suspicious of withdrawal talks
Yesterday, Wednesday, Russia announced that it had ordered its forces to withdraw from Kherson to the east of the Dnieper.
Conflicting information has leaked out about withdrawal intentions before, and Ukraine has reacted with suspicion.
The Russian-occupied region of Kherson is located on the shores of the Black Sea. The Dnieper River runs through the area and the city of Kherson itself remains on the west side of the river.
Herson is one of the four regions that Russia illegally annexed earlier in the fall.
In its counterattack, Ukraine has pushed the Russian forces west of the Dnieper into an even tighter position.
– Military experts have said that it is difficult for Russia to maintain its forces west of the Dnieper, when Ukraine has succeeded in destroying logistics connections, Kuronen states.
– It is difficult for Russia to bring weapons, fuel, foodstuffs to its troops on the west side of the Dnieper.
Troops from Kherson to Donbas to help?
According to Kuronen, one scenario would be that Russia would withdraw to the east of the Dnieper before winter and then start to strengthen its forces in Donbas, for example.
On Wednesday, Kuronen visited the eastern city of Bahmut in the Donbas region, where the fighting is currently fierce.
According to Kuronen, Bahmut is one of the few places where Russia is now trying to advance.
– After all, Russia hasn’t succeeded in making new conquests of Ukraine for a couple of months, but it is trying to conquer Bahmut and the firing is continuous.
Kuronen points out that despite its efforts, Russia has not yet succeeded in occupying Bahmut, let alone the entire Donbas region.
– Therefore, one possibility is that Russia tries to strengthen its front there and get even small victories from Ukraine.
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