Loss of Kherson to prevent Russia from creating land corridor to Odesa - British intelligence

According to Ukrinform, the UK Ministry of Defense said this in its intelligence update published on Twitter on Thursday.

It is noted that on November 9, 2022, Russian Defence Minister Shoigu Shoigu ordered the withdrawal of Russian forces from the west bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson in the south of Ukraine.

General Sergei Surovikin, commander of the Russian forces in Ukraine, confirmed they will withdraw to defensive positions along the Dnipro River, citing re-supply issues as the primary reason for the decision.

“Russia’s ability to sustain its forces on the west bank of the Dnipro river had been placed under pressure by Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s resupply routes,” the ministry said.

In addition, in retreating, Russian forces have destroyed multiple bridges and likely laid mines to slow and delay advancing Ukrainian forces.

“With limited crossing points, Russian forces will be vulnerable in crossing the Dnipro River. It is likely that the withdrawal will take place over several days with defensive positions and artillery fires covering withdrawing forces,” the ministry said.

As reported by Ukrinform earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he considers the statements made by the Russian Federation about troops’ relocation and evacuation from Kherson and the entire region to be an information operation, since all the most prepared troops of the Russian Federation remain in place.

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