As Moscow’s grip on Ukrainian territories weakens, the Russian-installed governor of Ukraine’s Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, urged residents to evacuate, signaling a significant setback for Vladimir Putin’s forces. The call came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s counter-offensive gained momentum, forcing Putin’s military to evacuate civilians from Russian-annexed regions. Reports from Russia’s TASS news agency indicated that the first group of fleeing civilians from Kherson was expected to reach Russia’s Rostov region on Friday.
In a video message, Saldo cited the relentless missile attacks on Kherson, prompting the administration’s decision to offer residents the option to travel to other regions in Russia for safety. The call particularly applied to those on the west bank of the Dnipro River, including the regional capital, Kherson—the only major Ukrainian city captured intact by Russia since the invasion.
Kherson holds strategic importance, controlling the land route to Crimea and the mouth of the Dnipro River. Ukrainian forces, making significant advances since October, aimed to cut off Russian troops, potentially severing supply lines and escape routes. The governor of Russia’s Rostov region welcomed those choosing to leave Kherson, emphasizing preparedness to host them.
However, moments after Saldo’s message, his deputy, Kirill Stremousov, denied any evacuation plan, stating, “There is and can be no evacuation in Kherson region,” and insisting on Russian troop presence. A potential civilian exodus from Kherson would undermine Russia’s annexation claims, impacting around 15% of Ukraine’s territory.
As Ukraine makes territorial gains, Russian retaliation intensified, targeting civilian facilities in Mykolaiv and launching air strikes, including over 100 cruise missiles at infrastructure. Putin’s response to battlefield setbacks involves dramatic escalation, invoking nuclear threats and asserting territorial annexation. The conflict dynamics continue to evolve, with Russia facing challenges and Ukraine demonstrating resilience on multiple fronts.
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