Ukraine says Russian forces are withdrawing from other areas of Kherson

kyiv, Sep. 11 (DPA/EP) –

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Armed Forces has assured this Sunday that after Saturday’s advances in Kharkov, this Sunday the Russian forces have withdrawn from several towns in the Kherson province.

Russian forces are now limited to aerial reconnaissance and sabotage missions to hinder the Ukrainian offensive, according to kyiv. Specifically, they have launched 16 projectiles and have bombed three positions in Ukrainian territory that have affected 15 towns such as Dergachi, Kramatorsk, Kostiantinivka, Dnipro, Voznesensk and Nikolaev.

Also in the Sumi region there have been Russian bombardments with tanks, mortars, artillery and rockets against infrastructures 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, Zaporizhia, Buz Sur and Novaya Kajovka.

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

Meanwhile, in the town of Nova Kakhovka, a hospital has been evacuated in order to use this building as a military base, according to kyiv.

Up to 52,650 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion, on February 24, according to the official balance of the Ukrainian Government. In the last 24 hours, 400 Russian soldiers have joined.

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

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 until now the territorial advances achieved by the Ukrainian forces have been very limited.