Ukrainian troops entered the Southern port city of Kherson on Friday, handing Ukraine a critical military victory and morale booster as winter sets in. The advancement marks the third major setback for Russia in the war including a retreat from Kyiv in the spring, followed by swift Ukrainian successes in September as they retook parts of the Kharkiv region.
This most recent complication for Russian war efforts follows a surprising announcement by Russian Commander General Sergei Surovikin earlier in the week that troops were to withdraw from the strategic port city. Attempting to downplay the significance of the event, Russian President Vladamir Putin framed the retreat as a ‘redeployment’ of troops.
Ukrainian military intelligence, while cautiously optimistic, also warned the retreat could be an example of Russian ‘maskirovka’ or deception in an attempt to lure Ukrainian troops into an urban warfare trap. As of Friday morning, however, all Russian troops had retreated to the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, where they will continue to use tactical air weaponry to gain traction.
Kherson is a critical stronghold for both sides of the conflict given its strategic location. While a vital Black Sea port and gateway to Crimea, Kherson also holds symbolic importance as the first major city to fall to Russia in Feb. 2022.
The advancement helps bolster Ukrainian arguments to NATO to continue funding its military operations as it sets to retake all seized territory. The United States recently approved its 25th military aid package to the country which included $400 million worth of air defense weaponry.
In recent weeks, however, officials from the United States have expressed their concerns with this ‘open-investment’ funding scheme, instead pressing for diplomatic negotiations. Yet, European Union officials conceded serious peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are unlikely as both sides seek to strengthen their positions on the battlefield. Ukrainian civilians are also unlikely to support their government’s participation in negotiations, having faced untold scenes of human destruction, mass murder, rape, and looting at the hands of Russian troops.
For the citizens of Kherson, however, the progression of Ukrainian troops into their besieged city was a sight for sore eyes. Initial, unconfirmed images from the city on Friday morning showed residents roaming the streets, hugging each other as a raised Ukrainian flag waved atop the Kherson city building.
