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LONDON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu connected Wednesday ordered his troops to retreat from the occupied Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson and instrumentality up antiaircraft lines connected the other slope of the River Dnipro.
The announcement marked 1 of Russia's astir important retreats and a imaginable turning constituent successful the war, present nearing the extremity of its ninth month.
In televised comments, General Sergei Surovikin, successful wide bid of the war, reported to Shoigu that it was nary longer imaginable to support Kherson metropolis supplied.
"Having comprehensively assessed the existent situation, it is projected to instrumentality up defence on the near (eastern) slope of the Dnipro River," said Surovikin, lasting astatine a lectern and indicating unit positions connected a representation whose details were greyed-out for the TV audience.
"I recognize that this is simply a precise hard decision, but astatine the aforesaid clip we volition sphere the astir important happening - the lives of our servicemen and, successful general, the combat effectiveness of the radical of troops, which it is futile to support connected the close slope successful a constricted area."
The quality followed weeks of Ukrainian advances towards the metropolis and a contention by Russia to relocate much than 100,000 of its residents by ferrying them to the other broadside of the river.
Kherson is the main metropolis of the portion of the aforesaid sanction - 1 of 4 Ukrainian regions which President Vladimir Putin proclaimed successful September helium was incorporating into Russia "forever", and which the Kremlin said had present been placed nether Moscow's atomic umbrella.
Shoigu told Surovikin: "I hold with your conclusions and proposals. For us,the beingness and wellness of Russian servicemen is ever a priority. We indispensable besides instrumentality into relationship the threats to the civilian population.
"Proceed with the withdrawal of troops and instrumentality each measures to guarantee the harmless transportation of personnel, weapons and instrumentality crossed the Dnipro River."
The announcement had been anticipated by Russia's influential warfare bloggers, who described it arsenic a bitter blow.
"Apparently we volition permission the city, nary substance however achy it is to constitute astir it now," said the War Gonzo blog, which has much than 1.3 cardinal subscribers connected Telegram.
"In elemental terms, Kherson can't beryllium held with bare hands," it said. "Yes, this is simply a achromatic leafage successful the past of the Russian army. Of the Russian state. A tragic page."
Compounding the consciousness of Russian disarray successful Kherson, Moscow's fig 2 authoritative there, Kirill Stremousov, was killed successful a car clang connected Wednesday.
Stremousov was 1 of the astir salient faces of Russia's occupation. Ukraine viewed him arsenic a collaborator and a traitor.
In a video connection lone hours earlier his death, Stremousov denounced what helium called Ukrainian "Nazis" and said the Russian subject was successful "full control" of the concern successful the south.
Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Jon Boyle and Jonathan Oatis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Thomson Reuters
Chief writer connected Russia and CIS. Worked arsenic a writer connected 7 continents and reported from 40+ countries, with postings successful London, Wellington, Brussels, Warsaw, Moscow and Berlin. Covered the break-up of the Soviet Union successful the 1990s. Security analogous from 2003 to 2008. Speaks French, Russian and (rusty) German and Polish.
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