Ukraine forces in liberated Snihurivka, north of Kherson city, November 10, 2022

EA on RTE and Times Radio: The Turning Point in the Ukraine War — Russia’s Defeat in Kherson City

Thursday’s Coverage: Putin Defeated — Russians Retreat from Kherson City

Source: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1805:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has posted on Telegram about the “historic day” and the people in Kherson city who “never lost hope”

They never gave up on Ukraine. Hope for Ukraine is always justified – and Ukraine always returns its own….

And even when the city is not yet completely cleansed of the enemy’s presence, the people of Kherson themselves are already removing Russian symbols from the streets and buildings and any traces of the occupiers’ stay in Kherson.

It was the same in all other cities liberated by our defenders. It will be the same in those cities that are still waiting for our return.

Ukraine will come to all its people.

UPDATE 1700 GMT:

The celebrations in liberated Kherson city this evening.

The Guardian’s collection of social media videos of the liberation:

UPDATE 1530 GMT:

The death toll from Russia’s attack on a Mykolaiv high-rise building early this morning has risen to seven.

UPDATE 1526 GMT:

In the latest prisoner exchange with Russia, 45 Ukrainian soldiers have been freed and the bodies of two soldiers have been repatriated.

UPDATE 1524 GMT:

Images of liberation from Kherson city:

UPDATE 1149 GMT:

Images of residents preparing to welcome liberating Ukrainian forces in Kherson city.

UPDATE 1146 GMT:

Covering up evidence of chaos in the retreat from Kherson city, Russia’s Defense Ministry says withdrawal to the eastern bank of the Dnipro River is complete.

The Ministry declared that all forces and equipment were moved across the river by 4 a.m. local time. It insisted that not a single troop or piece of equipment was lost.

UPDATE 1138 GMT:

Images are circulating on social media which claim to be of Ukrainian troops inside Kherson city.

More than three hours earlier, Ukrainian partisans inside Kherson appear to have raised the national flag in a central square.

Footage on Russian social media channels indicated chaos and fear amid Moscow’s retreating forces. One fighter says:

Everything I’ve been saying has happened. Those trying to find justification for this…you can tell them to go fuck themselves. Those who think everything will be fine next, tell them to go fuck themselves.

They are digging fortifications in [Russian-occupied] Crimea and in one unit, which I won’t name, the last order was to change into civilian clothing and fuck off anyway you want.

UPDATE 1134 GMT:

The Antonivskiy Bridge, the main road and rail crossing from Kherson city to the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, has collapsed, says Ukraine’s public Suspilne broadcaster.

The outlet quoted residents published a photograph displaying the collapse of sections of the bridge.

The next road crossing across the Dnipro is more than 70 km (43 miles) from the city.

The cause of the collapse is not known. However, earlier this week Ukrainian officials said Russian forces were blowing up bridges as they retreated across the Inhulets River, a tributary of the Dnipro.

UPDATE 1118 GMT:

Hours after Ukrainian forces liberated some of the last occupied territory in the Mykolaiv region, next to the Kherson region, Russian forces fired again on Mykolaiv city.

At least five people were killed.

Mayor Alexander Senkevich initially said of the overnight attack, which struck a high-rise building:

Destruction from the fifth to the first floor. So far, two dead and two injured are known. The emergency services continue the search and rescue operation.

The latest Russian attacks across the Donetsk region in eastern UKraine killed two civilians.

UPDATE 1114 GMT:

The US has sent the first mobile Avenger air defense systems to Ukraine.

The systems are among the latest $400 million package of military aid, which also includes missiles for Hawk air defense systems, munitions for HIMARS medium-range rocket systems, and large amounts of ammunition.

The US is also purchasing 100,000 rounds of howitzer artillery from South Korean manufacturers.

The US has committed about $18.6 billion in military assistance to Ukraine during Russia’s invasion.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukrainian forces close on Kherson city in southern Ukraine as Russia confirms its retreat, in a symbolic and strategic turning point in Moscow’s 8 1/2-month invasion.

Kyiv’s troops advanced up to 7 km (4.3 miles) from the north, the east, and the west on Thursday, liberating another 12 settlements. After taking Snihurivka, a supply and logistics hub for the Russians, the troops raised the Ukrainian flag in Kyslivka, about 15 km (9 miles) from the center of Kherson.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed Wednesday’s announcements by Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and the commander of the invasion, Gen. Sergey Surovikin, of the withdrawal from the city: “The Russian troop units are maneuvering to a prepared position on the left bank of the Dnipro River in strict accordance with the approved plan.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 41 settlements have been liberated in the Kherson region this month. However, Kyiv maintained caution over its victory. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that the Russian invaders will need time to leave Kherson city, and that Moscow still has 40,000 troops in the Kherson region, “annexed” by Vladimir Putin on September 21.

“It’s not that easy to withdraw these troops from Kherson in one day or two days. As a minimum, one week,” Reznikov said.

Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine’s deputy military intelligence chief, assessed that more than half the Russian forces in and near the city are still there — meaning 10,000 troops have not retreated yet across the Dnipro River.