Russian troops have been ordered to flee the city of Kherson in Ukraine.
Russia has made a series of retreats in recent months, but this is a particularly significant one.
Kherson connects the two main areas of Ukraine that Russia has controlled – Crimea in the south, and the Donbas in the east. Russia illegally annexed Kherson (declared ownership) of it last month.
Here’s how leaders have reacted.
On Russian television, General Sergei Surovikin said it had become “futile” to remain in the city.
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
“I understand that this is a very difficult decision, but at the same time we will preserve the most important thing – the lives of our servicemen.”
In August, the U.S. Department of Defense estimated that at least 80,000 Russian soldiers had died since the invasion began.
U.S. President Joe Biden said he was expecting the retreat, and said it showed Russia had “some real problems”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would respond “carefully”.
“The enemy does not give us gifts, does not make ‘goodwill gestures’, we fight for it,” he said.
