Ukraine capable of retaking Kherson from Russia -Pentagon chief - Reuters UK

WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces tin retake the strategical confederate metropolis of Kherson from Russian troops, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said connected Thursday, successful what would beryllium a large decision for Russia successful its penetration of its neighbor.

Austin's remarks coincided with a Russian-installed authoritative successful Kherson portion saying Moscow was apt to pull its troops from the westbound slope of the Dnipro River, signaling a important retreat, if confirmed.

Ukraine said it was still fighting successful the country and was wary of the occupying Russian forces mounting a trap.

Austin did not reply a question astir whether Russian forces were preparing to leave. But, successful possibly his astir optimistic comments yet connected the Ukrainian counter-offensive, expressed assurance successful their quality to bushed backmost Russian forces.

"On the contented of whether the Ukrainians tin instrumentality the remaining territory connected the westbound broadside of the Dnipro stream and successful Kherson, I surely judge that they person the capableness to bash that," Austin told a quality league astatine the Pentagon.

"Most importantly, the Ukrainians judge they person the capableness to bash that. We person seen them prosecute successful a precise methodical but effectual effort to instrumentality backmost their sovereign territory."

The region's superior and stream larboard Kherson is the lone large metropolis Russia has captured intact since its penetration began connected Feb. 24.

The country the Ukrainians are seeking to retake connected the westbound slope of the stream besides includes 1 broadside of a immense dam crossed the Dnipro which controls the h2o proviso to irrigate Crimea, the peninsula Russia has occupied since 2014.

A Western official, speaking connected information of anonymity, assessed Russia was readying to retreat from their bridgehead connected the westbound broadside of the stream to the eastbound side, wherever it could amended support its forces.

"We deliberation that that readying is astir surely good advanced," the authoritative said.

The authoritative said immoderate Russian subject commanders had rebased to the different broadside of the river.

"We would measure that successful Kherson, it's apt that astir echelons of bid person withdrawn present crossed the stream to the east, leaving beauteous demoralized and often successful immoderate cases leaderless troops to look of Ukrainians connected the different side," the Western authoritative said.

Russia has fought for months to bent connected to the pouch of onshore it holds connected the westbound slope astatine the rima of the Dnipro stream that bisects Ukraine. Moscow had sent tens of thousands of troops to reenforce the area, 1 of its biggest battlefield priorities.

Ukraine has targeted the main stream crossings for months, making it hard for Russia to proviso its immense unit connected the westbound bank. Ukrainian troops person been advancing on the stream since bursting done the Russian frontline astatine the commencement of October, though their beforehand had slowed.

Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Chris Reese and Grant McCool

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