Russia abandons 20000 troops near Kherson as Ukraine counterattacks

Russia abandons 20,000 troops near Kherson as Ukraine counterattacks

Russia has left 20,000 troops near Kherson in the face of a Ukrainian counterattack, the regional governor claimed.

Vitaly Kim said Russia is moving command posts east on the west bank of the Dnipro River, leaving “dumb orcs” — his term for Kremlin soldiers — behind.

Ukraine has already blown up all three Russian-controlled bridges connecting the two banks, meaning its soldiers on the western side have no easy way to resupply, reinforce, or retreat while Kiev’s men continue their advance.

Kim, the governor of Mykolayiv, which sits on the west bank, said Monday that Russian commanders have now begun a retreat – apparently fearing capture or death at the hands of the Ukrainians.

Russia has begun moving command posts from the west bank of the Dnipro River (left) to the east (right), with Mayor Vitaly Kim saying troops are being

Russia has begun moving command posts from the west bank of the Dnipro River (left) to the east (right), with Mayor Vitaly Kim saying troops are being “abandoned” by their leaders.

“I’m a little sorry – but not much – for the stupid orcs who were abandoned on the right bank of the Dnieper,” he wrote on Telegram.

‘All commanders move to the other side.’

Kherson was captured by Russian forces back in March, when Putin’s troops stormed in from occupied Crimea and seized parts of southern Ukraine.

It is a strategically important city as it straddles the Dnipro River – which bisects Ukraine – and is close to the Black Sea coast which connects Ukraine with valuable sea trade routes.

The city also has great symbolic value as it is the only capital of the region that was captured by Putin’s troops during the invasion.

Ukraine last month announced plans for a counterattack in the region before blowing up two road bridges – the Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson and the Nova Kakhovka Dam Bridge – with HIMARS missiles.

Both were hit several times, including over the weekend, and British intelligence said they were now likely impassable to most vehicles.

“Even if Russia manages to make significant repairs to the bridges, they will remain a key weak point,” the defense ministry said.

“Ground supplies for the several thousand soldiers on the West Bank almost certainly depend on just two pontoon ferry crossing points.

Ukraine says Russia has around 20,000 men stationed in Kherson who are now vulnerable to counterattack because all major bridges across the river are out of order (file picture).

Ukraine says Russia has around 20,000 men stationed in Kherson who are now vulnerable to counterattack because all major bridges across the river are out of order (file picture).

Ukrainian troops attack the city of Kherson to recapture it before winter (file image)

Ukrainian troops attack the city of Kherson to recapture it before winter (file image)

“Given the constrained supply chains, the size of the stockpiles Russia has been able to stock on the West Bank is likely to be a key factor in the force’s endurance.”

But the American think tank Institute for the Study of War believes that Russia has already lost the ability to hold the territory.

“Russian forces on the west bank of the Dnipro are likely to lose the ability to defend themselves against limited Ukrainian counterattacks,” it said on Sunday.

“It is impractical, if not impossible, to get munitions, fuel and heavy equipment sufficient for offensive or even large-scale defensive operations via pontoon ferries or by air.”

Retaking Kherson would be a huge morale boost for Ukraine, while also proving that its ultimate war goal – retaking all Russian-held territory – is possible with the right kind of support.

It would likely trigger increased arms shipments from Kiev’s western donors, along with more financial support.

And it would make the prospect of a Russian attack on the vital port city of Odessa – some 90 miles west of Kherson – extremely unlikely.

To thwart these plans, Putin has moved thousands of troops from the Eastern Front to reinforce the Kherson area.

But that – combined with HIMARS attacks wiping out devastating ammunition depots and command posts – has slowed Russia’s advance in Donbass to a crawl.

Kherson is the only regional capital in Ukraine that fell to Russian forces during the war, and recapturing it would be a huge morale boost for Kyiv (file)

Kherson is the only regional capital in Ukraine that fell to Russian forces during the war, and recapturing it would be a huge morale boost for Kyiv (file)

Putin’s generals have not gained significant ground since taking the cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in late June and early July.

America believes Russia has now lost about 75,000 dead and wounded – half the troops Putin amassed before the invasion – and is struggling to recruit more men.

The shadowy Wagner mercenary group is said to be so desperate for recruits that Prigozhin personally goes to Russian prisons to look for convicted murderers to join his ranks.

The occupied territories are also being drafted, but these troops are poorly trained and equipped and have been dubbed “cannon fodder” by Ukrainian soldiers.

Putin is also being forced to turn to an ever-shrinking group of allies to help buy up to 1,000 drones from Iran and promise to deepen ties with North Korea.

At a major arms show that began today, Putin boasted that Russian arms are “decades ahead” of competitors – despite obvious shortcomings in Ukraine – and vowed to provide his allies with the best he has available.

Putin said: ‘[We] are ready to offer our allies the most modern types of weapons, from small arms, armored vehicles and artillery to fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles.

“Almost all of them were used more than once in real combat operations. Many of them are years, if not decades, ahead of their foreign counterparts.

“And in tactical and technical characteristics they are clearly superior to them.”

Delegations from more than 70 countries are participating in Army-2022 to benefit from good offers on Russian equipment.