Russian forces are reportedly set to withdrawal from Kherson in Ukraine. The city was captured during Russia’s invasion in February. And the Ukraine counter-offensive continues to wreak havoc on the plans of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian troops have been ordered to withdraw across the entire Kherson region from the Dnipro River to the south and the east. 

On Wednesday, Russian state media claimed the military is leaving the city of Kherson which has been a strategic center for Russian military operations.

Along with 4 other regions Kherson was “annexed” by Russia in September. Moscow was using the annexed areas which largely border Russia to organize military strikes on Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv.

Defending now-annexed occupied territories stretching along the west bank of Kherson has become more difficult.  Ukrainian forces have disabled bridges across the Dnipro. And are attacking Russian supply lines making it almost impossible to move soldiers and equipment without losses.

Ukraine’s counter-insurgency forces are currently approaching Kherson from two separate directions. The Ukrainians were reported to have entered the village of Kalynivske and that “the front line is steadily moving towards Kherson.”

 This is hastening the Russian retreat.

After the withdrawal, several thousand square miles more of Russian-annexed territory will have been taken back by Ukraine.

A meeting in Moscow

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Gen. Sergei Surovikin, the recently appointed commander of Russia’s forces in Ukraine, met last week in Moscow. And they planned the withdrawal from Kherson.

According to Surovikin  “Kherson [city] and adjacent settlements in the current conditions cannot be fully supplied and function.”

Surovikin also claimed that it is Ukraine, not Russia who attacks their own people. He reportedly said that Ukraine forces “are attacking schools, hospitals, and civilians in Kherson, who are being evacuated to the other side of the Dnipro River.”

It is impossible to verify Survokin's claim that “from August to October, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost more than 9,500 people in Kherson. And that represents seven to eight times more than Russian losses.”

 Withdrawal from Kherson underway

Ukrainian officials are said to be skeptical that the Russian forces have completely left the area.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser in the Office of the President of Ukraine, tweeted that “Actions speak louder than words. We see no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight,” 

Ukraine “is liberating territories based on intelligence data, not staged TV statements,” Podolyak added.

According to the Russian Telegram channel in the North Kherson area, some withdrawals are taking place. And “there was a withdrawal to back up positions,” in the neighboring Mykolaiv region.

The report claimed that “Ukrainian sources published a photo with the raising of their flag at the Snihurivka railway station. The settlement is under their control.”