Russia’s defense minister orders a retreat from Kherson City.

Russia’s defense minister on Wednesday ordered the retreat of Moscow’s forces from the key southern city of Kherson, in a potentially devastating blow to President Vladimir Putin’s war effort. The Ukrainian military had warned that Russian forces might try to feign a retreat in hopes of drawing them into urban combat.

The move — announced in televised remarks — came after Gen. Sergei Surovikin, the commander for Russia’s forces in Ukraine, told Sergei K. Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister, that the decision was “difficult” but that a withdrawal would “preserve lives of servicemen and combat readiness of forces.” Read more

@nytimes