Russia on Friday completed the withdrawal of all troops from the west bank of the Dnieper in Kherson, claiming no soldiers or military equipment were left behind. This represents a dramatic retreat on the battlefield.
But it’s coming sooner than Western officials expected – U.S. Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Tuesday that the retreat would take “days, possibly weeks.” Ukraine’s defense minister also expressed skepticism that Russia might withdraw soon.
Ukrainian authorities have accused Russian troops retreating from Kherson of destroying infrastructure and looting museums.Photos and videos shared by government adviser And the state broadcaster appeared to indicate that the strategic Antonovsky bridge had been destroyed. Ukrainian officials have accused the Russian military of blowing up a bridge connecting the city of Kherson and Russian-held southern territories as they withdrew.
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4. From our correspondent
Howitzers support attacks on the Southern Front of Ukraine. Ukraine has used US-made high-mobility artillery rocket systems, or HIMARS launchers, to cut off Russian forces from supply lines south of Kherson and the Mykolaiv region. It also used U.S.-provided howitzers to attack Russian front lines, allowing Ukrainian infantry to liberate a series of occupied towns pushed toward Kherson, said Ukrainian Michael E. Miller and Anastasia Galushka report.
Even when the front lines were not moving, the US-provided howitzers have helped the Ukrainians by ensuring that the Russians did not have their own short-range artillery on the front lines. I wouldn’t say it changed direction. [the howitzers] Accelerating our victory. ”
