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Ukraine war: Kremlin insists Kherson still part of Russia despite troop withdrawal | World News


A Ukrainian flag was raised in the city of Kherson after Russia completed its withdrawal from the west bank of the river that divides the region of the same name.

In a statement issued by RussiaState news agencies, the Defense Ministry said the withdrawal ended at 5 a.m. Friday and no military equipment was left on the west bank.

Areas where Russian troops retreated include the city of Kherson, the only regional capital that Moscow captured during the eight-month war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian flag ‘raised in central Kherson’ – latest war

A member of Kherson regional council said residents were being asked to stay home while searches for any remaining Russian soldiers were carried out.

They also said many Russian soldiers drowned trying to leave Kherson.

After Russia withdrew, a photo posted on social media appeared to show a Ukrainians The flag is raised by people in the city center.

The recapture of the city could provide Ukraine with a launch pad for supplies and troops to try to regain other lost territories to the south, including Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.

Ukrainian flag flutters in the center of Kherson after the Russians withdraw
Picture:
Ukrainian flag flutters in the center of Kherson after the Russians withdraw

A Kremlin spokesman refused to admit the withdrawal was an insult to President Vladimir Putin.

Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow continues to consider the Kherson region as part of Russia.

“It is a subject of the Russian Federation – it is fixed and legally defined,” he said.

“There is no change and there can be no change.”

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Shortly before the Russian announcement, the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation in the Kherson region as “difficult”.

It said Russia had shelled several villages and towns that Ukrainian forces had recaptured in recent weeks during their counterattack in the Kherson region.

A road bridge connecting Kherson to the east bank of the Dnipro River also appears to have collapsed.

Ukraine’s public broadcaster, Suspilne, quoted locals as confirming the news on Friday.

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It is not yet clear what caused the collapse, but Russian media reported that the bridge blew up after the water receded.

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