Is the withdrawal of troops from the city of Kherson another blow for Putin?

For quite some time now, the Kiev forces have been gradually advancing towards the city of Kherson in Ukraine. Russian forces took control of the city a few days after the start of the war. In this situation, Russia announced the withdrawal of troops from there on Wednesday. Defense Minister Sergei Soigu announced this after a meeting with Commander Sergey Surovykin. The meeting was televised.

Ukrainian forces have been occupying villages near the Black Sea approach to the city for weeks.

 

What is to be seen now is the reason behind the announcement of Russian troop withdrawal and what could be its consequences.

 

Kherson was the first major city captured by Russian forces during Russia's 'special military operation' in Ukraine, and the only regional capital under Russian control since the outbreak of war.

 

In a televised meeting, General Sergey Surovykin said that it is not possible to supply Russian troops with logistics in the city of Kherson. About 100,000 people have been evacuated from Tir on the right bank of the Niporo River.

 

"We did everything possible to ensure their safety during the evacuation," Surovykin said. I know, it's a very difficult decision. But the most important thing at this time is to save the lives of the soldiers. And generally speaking, to maintain the combat capability of the army. So keeping them on the right bank of the river Niporo is pointless.

 

The main bridge leading to the city of Kherson was blown up early Wednesday morning. Ukrainian forces posted pictures of the destroyed bridge. Their guess is that Russian troops blew up the bridge in preparation for a retreat.

 

NATO chief Yanes Stoltenberg said Putin did not take Ukraine's courage and commitment to fight seriously. It also made the mistake of underestimating Kiev's assurances of support from NATO allies.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly announced the withdrawal from parts of the Kherson region last week, saying civilians could not be allowed to suffer.

 

News of Russian troops withdrawing from the city of Kherson could be a trap to lure its troops to advance, Kyiv warned.

 

Mykhailo Podoliak, a political adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, told Reuters in a statement, "Now is not the right time to talk about the withdrawal of Russian troops from the city of Kherson." As long as the Ukrainian flag is flying in the sky of Kherson, there is no point in talking about the withdrawal of Russian troops.'

 

The adviser added that a group of armed forces of the Russian Federation is being stationed in the city and more personnel are being brought to the area.

 

Kherson is one of the four Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia in a referendum ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin last September. The capital of the region is the city of Kherson.

Criticism of the Russian leadership may increase due to this troop withdrawal. Because, the support for Putin in Russia has already decreased after announcing the deployment of troops in Ukraine.

 

A strategic victory for Ukraine in the Black Sea region would see the country isolate Crimea from Russia. Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014.

 

At the same time, the victory would give Ukraine back access to the Sea of ​​Azov, which is very important to them. And what will happen from Putin's side is that Putin's ambitions to show his power to the Western world will fall flat.