Russian troops were ordered to withdraw from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, in a surprise move by President Vladimir Putin.
Russian state media reported on Wednesday that its forces in Kherson will withdraw from the west bank of the Dnipro River in the face of Ukrainian advances in the region.
The directive was issued by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting with the commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin, as Ukrainian forces approached the city from two directions.
Even so, Ukrainian officials remain skeptical that Moscow's forces have left the region.
This is a string from the statement of the Advisor to the President of Ukraine, Mykhaylo Podolyak on Twitter that they do not see any signal that Russia will leave Kherson peacefully.
The Kremlin's efforts to defend the occupied territory on the western bank of the Kherson have become increasingly difficult as Ukrainian forces destroy bridges across the Dnipro and attack Russian supply flows.
Kherson is the only regional capital to be captured by Russia since the invasion began in February. It was also one of four Ukrainian regions illegally annexed by Russia in September.
