Retreating Russians ‘fled in panic’

The retreat of Vladimir Putin’s troops from the key city of Kherson triggered panic among his fleeing forces, according to a Ukrainian defence official.

Russian soldiers have reportedly fled in panic from the area, an adviser to the Ukrainian defence minister said. The claim came after Russia’s defence ministry confirmed the retreat from the west bank of the river dividing Ukraine’s Kherson region was complete.

Ukrainian adviser Yuriy Sak said: “We always believed that we will liberate Kherson. And we are confident Russians are beginning to believe that they will never be able to win this war. We see the panic in their ranks. We see the panic in their propaganda machine.”

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said that Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson had likely started as early as October 22. Kherson was the only regional capital city captured since February by Russian forces “so the withdrawal brings significant reputational damage”, it said.

Ukrainian police officers and broadcasters returned to the city yesterday as the regional capital tried to return to normal.

Ihor Klymenko, chief of the National Police of Ukraine, said 200 officers were at work in the city, setting up checkpoints and documenting evidence of possible war crimes. Police teams were also working to identify and neutralise unexploded ordnance, and one sapper was injured yesterday while demining an administrative building, said Klymenko.

Ukraine’s communications watchdog said national TV and radio broadcasts had resumed in the city, and an adviser to Kherson’s mayor said humanitarian aid and supplies had begun to arrive from the neighbouring Mykolaiv region. Meanwhile, Ed Arnold, research fellow for European security at the Royal United Services Institute, said there may now be increased pressure on Ukrainian troops to recapture more Russianoccupied territories.

Arnold explained: “Politically, there will still be pressure to take back territories because we’ve seen what happens in areas that Russia controls in terms of the things they do to the population. They will not want to leave any more territory in Russian hands.”