Russian troops remain on right bank of Dnipro River, AFU ready for enemy’s treacherous actions

"We are closely following the enemy’s activity in Kherson region, how they are changing their positions, what they are preparing for and why. We can say that they are partially withdrawing their weapons and equipment, they are setting up defense lines on the left bank. But they still remain on the right bank: units, defense lines, weapons and equipment," Natalia Humeniuk, head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces, said during the nationwide news telethon.

Speaking about a possible deceptive maneuver by the Russians, she noted that the Defense Forces were aware of the treachery of the enemy so they were ready for any developments.

Regarding the information about the enemy's mining of Kherson, Humeniuk noted that this had become a commonplace practice of the occupiers which they had already demonstrated in various regions of Ukraine.

"We were ready for mining and appropriate work was carried out with the local population in the liberated territories. We realize that it can happen here as well. We have a strong connection with the resistance forces operating in the temporarily occupied territory. Therefore, we carefully collect information about objects and areas that may be under such a threat. We are trying to protect the lives of our units and all civilians," Humeniuk emphasized.

As reported, the commander of the Russian group of occupation troops, Sergey Surovikin, announced the abandonment of Kherson and the withdrawal of troops to the left bank of the Dnipro River during a report to Russian defense minister Sergey Shoigu. The minister supported this decision.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that he considered Russia’s statements on the redeployment of troops and evacuation from Kherson city and region to be an information operation since all the most prepared Russian units remained in place.

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