Ukraine claims that Russian forces are withdrawing from other areas of Kherson

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has assured Sunday that after Saturday’s advances in Kharkov, this Sunday Russian forces have withdrawn from several localities in Kherson province.

Russian forces are now limited to aerial reconnaissance and sabotage missions to hinder the Ukrainian offensive, according to Kiev. Specifically, 16 shells have been launched and three positions have been shelled on Ukrainian territory affecting 15 localities such as Dergachi, Kramatorsk, Kostiantinivka, Dnipro, Voznesensk and Nikolaev.

Also in the Sumi region there has been Russian shelling with tanks, mortars, artillery and rockets against insfrastructure in Seredyna-Buda, Bachivsk, Yastrubivka and Maiske.

Meanwhile, in the Kramatorsk region Russian bombs have hit Bogorodichne, Raihorodok, Hrihorivka, Nikolaivka, Kriva Luka, Siversk, Zvanivka, Ivano-Daryivka, Spirne and Rozdolivka. There have also been attacks in the Bakhmut region, Avdiivsk, Novopavlivsk, Zaporiyia, South Buz and Novaya Kakhovka.

Thus, about 150 Russian servicemen have departed from Borshcheva and Artemivka, Kharkov region, in two buses, a truck and 19 “stolen” cars, leaving behind important supplies and material, according to Kiev. There they are said to have left four Kamaz trucks and 20 Tiger armored vehicles.

Meanwhile, in the locality of Nova Kakhovka a hospital has been evacuated in order to be able to use this building as a military base, according to Kiev.

Up to 52,650 Russian servicemen have died in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion, last February 24, according to the official balance sheet of the Ukrainian government. In the last 24 hours, 400 Russian servicemen have been added.

These movements of Russian troops to the east have not been confirmed by Moscow which did report on Saturday the withdrawal from towns such as Balakleya, Izium and Kupiansk to reinforce positions in the neighboring region of Donetsk.

In total so far this month Ukraine has “liberated” 3,000 square kilometers in its counterattack. Russia still controls some 125,000 kilometers of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean peninsula.

This withdrawal has triggered speculation about a possible turning point in the war, since so far the territorial gains achieved by Ukrainian forces had been very small.