Ukrainian Kherson ... Humiliated Moscow

 

"Kherson is returning to the control of Ukraine, Units of the armed forces of Ukraine are entering the city."

"The Russian occupiers' routes of retreat are under the direct fire of the Ukrainian Army."

"Any Russian soldier who resists will be killed."

Ukrainian Defense Ministry

 

"In total, more than 30,000 Russian servicemen, about 5,000 pieces of hardware, and military equipment and materiel have been withdrawn."

"Not a single piece of military equipment or weaponry was left on the right [western] bank."  

Russian Defense Ministry

 

"[Russian troops] have been changing into civilian clothes for two weeks."

"This should focus our forces as it means saboteur operations cannot be ruled out."

"Because of this, we are not rushing to announce our successes in other directions and in other towns."

Natalya Humenyuk, head, joint coordination press center, Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine

 

"The Russian invaders continue to loot the settlements from which they are retreating."

"The enemy is also attempting to damage power lines and other elements of the transport and critical infrastructure of the Kherson region as much as possible."

"[Russian mines continue to wound civilians]."

Ukrainian General Staff 

"Today is a historic day. We are returning Kherson. As of now, our defenders are on the approaches to the city. But special units are already in the city."

"Today we have good news from the south. The number of Ukrainian flags returning to their rightful place within the framework of the ongoing defense operation is already dozens."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskii

 

The advance units of the Ukrainian military entering Kherson were met with joy from residents in the centre of Kherson following the Russian abandonment of the sole regional capital captured in the early days of the 'special military operation' that brought a scorched-earth war to Ukraine, courtesy of the Kremlin. Russia had announced that not one piece of Russian military equipment had been left behind, all taken off by the retreating Russian military, ordered to leave the city that Vladimir Putin had mere weeks earlier declared a permanent part of Russia

 

Instead of the orderly military retreat ordered by Moscow, and described by the Russian military command, the Ukrainian military described a scene of chaotic retreat, Russian troops leaving their uniforms behind, abandoning weapons, and in their panic diving into the Dnieper River and drowning.

The Russian military command spoke of withdrawing 30,000 troops, and not a single soldier was lost, they boasted.

 

 

 

Videos showed Ukrainians chanting victory slogans in Kherson's central square welcoming the first Ukrainian troops to arrive. Kherson returned to Ukrainian control as Ukraine's defence intelligence agency ordered any remaining Russian troops to surrender to the Ukrainian forces entering the city. During one of the most rapid, humiliating of Russian retreats, villagers emerged from hiding, describing Russian troops killing residents and looting homes.

 

Some 20 jukinetres north of Kherson, Ukrainian soldiers took over positions in the recaptured village of Riahodatne where at the entrance of the village, Ukrainian troops assessed a large stockpile of 120 mm mortarshells left by the retreating Russians in a dilapidated warehouse. A large number of Russian soldiers had reportedly drowned in the Dnieper in their attempt to escape, while others had changed into civilian clothing. Residents were advised not to leave their homes during searches for remaining Russian troops.

 

"Saboteur operations cannot be ruled out", by Russian troops in civilian clothes, cautioned Natalia Humenuk speaking for the southern command of the Ukrainian military. According to pro-Russian war bloggers, Russian forces were crossing the river and coming under heavy fire from Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian forces, according to the Russian ministry, had struck Dniepro River crossings five times overnight with HIMARS rocket systems.

The advance of Ukrainian troops was as surprising as the hurried departure of the Russian troops; both in rapid order. In Ukraine's instance far more so than officials had suggested, leaving Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov to speculate it could take a week for Russia to pull entirely out of the Kherson region, estimating that Russia still had some 40,000 troops in the region, with intelligence confirming Russian forces remained in and around the region.

President Zelensky with soldiers on Monday. 14 November   Reuters