Civilians living in Kherson must leave the combat zone, Russian President Vladimir Putin said today, according to Portal. Earlier, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had expressed confidence that the Ukrainians could still retake Russian-held areas on the west side of the Dnipro River and around the city of Kherson. “I think they’re capable of that,” Austin said.
“More importantly, the Ukrainians themselves believe they can do it,” Austin added. According to Western security circles, Russia is preparing to withdraw its troops from Kherson.
“City Not Worth Fighting For”
The Russians have probably decided that “the city is not worth fighting for,” a senior Western government official told reporters yesterday. However, it is always possible that the military leadership will change its mind in the short term, even if everything currently points to a withdrawal, he said.
The US is playing a central role in supplying Ukraine with weapons and other aid in defending against Russia’s war of aggression, which has been ongoing since February.