With the company withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson theUkraine won an important victory, confirming on the one hand the tenacity of its resistance in over eight months of war, on the other the weakness of the Russian army. Some analysts see in the political choice of Vladimir Putin a signal to treat. But Kiev fears that Moscow just want to rearrange. The Ukrainian president will take care of placating the enthusiasm Zelensky according to which “the enemy doesn't give us gifts, he doesn't make gestures of good will. Therefore, we move very carefully, without emotion, without unnecessary risk, in the interest of freeing all our land and so that the losses are as small as possible".
The Retreat from Kherson, what happened
But what happened? The decision of training camp di kherson it was taken by the Russian Defense Minister Sergei shoigu after a report received from the commander of the Russian forces in Ukraine, General Surovikin. The latter said that 115.000 civilians had been evacuated from the region and accused the Ukrainians of having bombed schools, hospitals and the civilians themselves evacuated across the Dnipro River. To slow down the onslaught of the Ukrainian armed forces, Russian units blew up bridges in the region: first those of Daryiv and Tyagin, then the bridge at the exit from Snigurivka on the canal, then those of Novokairy and Mylovi. Five decks in all.
Russian troops line up on the left bank of the Dnipro River
Shoigu would order the defensive line to be repositioned Russian on the other side of the Dnipro River, the eastern one (Kherson had become indefensible, keeping the left bank will be much easier). “Securing supplies had become very difficult, resisting made no sense. The decision to defend on left bank of the river – explained General Surovkin – it was not easy, but at the same time we will save the lives of our servicemen and the combat effectiveness of our troops. The maneuver of the troops will be carried out in the near future, the formations will occupy the prepared defensive lines on the left bank of the Dnipro".
Russia-Ukraine War: Are We Close to Peace?
Il pickup from Kherson it was welcomed by many as a "turning point" in the war, on which, however, not only the fate of the conflict but also the international balance depends. In reality, no one thinks that there are conditions for peace, because the demands of Kiev have always been clear: the complete liberation of the occupied territories. And the liberation of Kherson could strengthen Kiev's confidence in the imminent victory, and that it may not agree to any compromises with Moscow and conclude a truce with it on the terms of maintaining the Russian control on Donbass.
Just as the news of the abandonment of the Ukrainian city was being released, the Kremlin, through the spokesperson for the Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova, had declared that it was open to negotiations on the basis of the "current situation", but to find no willingness from Kiev. Russia's negotiating offers are “another smokescreen. Even with limited readiness for dialogue, Russia is trying to buy time, to change the situation on the front in its favor, and start a new stage of aggression ”. Countered the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko, adding that “Russian officials start talking about talks every time their troops are defeated on the battlefield. A situation already seen in 2014-2015”. Above all, writes the Republic today, the Kremlin has transferred 150 men at the border in Belarus and in the Kursk and Bryansk areas. If there is no truce, they will attack.
The Russian retreat was announced after US midterm elections which awarded President Biden. In this way the White House can evaluate the diplomatic strategy without fear of possible electoral repercussions. And it will also depend on the orientation of the Biden administration where the balance will tip: conflict or peace?
Why is withdrawal from Kherson so important?
kherson is of such importance symbolizes as campaigns. It was the first major city captured by the invaders in March, as well as the only regional capital of Ukraine occupied by the Russians. Furthermore, its river port is an important outlet for the transport of grain to the nearby Black Sea and home to a large shipyard.
But due to its geographical position, located on the west bank of the Dnipro River, Kherson is also a strategic gateway to the Crimea, the peninsula occupied by Moscow in 2014 and not even two months ago Putin signed the annexation decree of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine.
