A Ukrainian flag has been raised within the metropolis of Kherson after Russia accomplished its retreat of troops from the west financial institution of the river dividing the area of the identical identify.
In an announcement carried by Russia‘s state information businesses, the defence ministry mentioned the withdrawal was completed at 5am on Friday and that no army gear was left on the western financial institution.
Areas the Russian army withdrew from embody town of Kherson, the one regional capital Moscow seized throughout its eight-month warfare in Ukraine.
Ukrainian flag ‘raised in centre of Kherson’ – warfare newest
A member of the Kherson regional council mentioned residents are being requested to remain at residence whereas searches for any remaining Russian troopers are carried out.
They additionally mentioned many Russian troops drowned whereas making an attempt to go away Kherson.
After the Russian retreat, an image posted on social media appeared to indicate a Ukrainian flag being raised within the centre of town by residents.
Recapturing town might present Ukraine a launching pad for provides and troops to attempt to win again different misplaced territory within the south, together with Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.
A Kremlin spokesman has refused to acknowledge the retreat as humiliating for Vladimir Putin, the president.
Dmitry Peskov mentioned Moscow continues to view the Kherson area as a part of Russia.
“It is a subject of the Russian Federation – it is legally fixed and defined,” he mentioned.
“There are no changes and there can be no changes.”
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Shortly earlier than the Russian announcement, the workplace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the scenario within the Kherson area as “difficult”.
It reported Russian shelling of a number of the villages and cities Ukrainian forces reclaimed in current weeks throughout their counteroffensive within the Kherson area.
A highway bridge that hyperlinks Kherson to the east financial institution of the Dnipro River additionally seems to have collapsed.
Ukraine’s public broadcaster, Suspilne, quoted native residents confirming the information on Friday.
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It isn’t instantly clear what brought on the obvious collapse, however Russian media studies prompt the bridge was blown up after the withdrawal.
Source: information.sky.com”