Russia gave up on Kherson two months too late, expert says
Fragment of Russian military uniform in liberated Blahodatne, Kherson region, November 11 (Photo:REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)
Moscow has incurred significant additional losses by refusing to abandon Kherson in early September, Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) analyst Kyrylo Mykhailov said in an interview with NV Radio on Nov. 11.
“Russia’s chief mistake was finally doing this (withdrawing) several months after it should have been done, based on military rationale,” said Mykhailov.
“We remember Russian generals asking (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin to allow them to pull back in late summer – early fall.”
He noted that it was most likely the current commander of Russian forces in Ukraine – Sergey Surovikin – who made the original request, as he was responsible for the Kherson front at the time. Putin instead decided to attempt to annex the region.
“It was only later that he (Putin) realized Russia’s position there is hopeless, that the western bank (of Dnipro River) has to be abandoned,” the expert adds.
“And yes, it’s a defeat. Precisely because the Russians refused to acknowledge it for a very long time, the defeat is now more bloody and costly to them – given the losses they sustained on the western bank.”
By Nov. 11, Ukraine was in almost complete control of Kherson, while Russia’s Defense Ministry reported its troops in the region have been withdrawn to the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.
Meanwhile, local residents posted photos of stranded Russian soldiers who change into civilian clothes in an attempt to blend in with the crowds and avoid getting captured by Ukrainian forces.
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