Ukraine suspicious over Russian withdrawal from Kherson; says 'Putin could be laying trap'

Ukraine has accused Russian troops of not withdrawing from city, stating that an ditional reserve force is still deployed in Kherson region. remark from Mykhailo Podolyak, an viser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, came after Russian commander Sergey Surovikin announced on Wednesday that Russian troops are withdrawing from western part of Kherson oblast.

"It is expedient to organise defence along barrier line of Dnieper River, along its left bank," Surovikin said, according to Kremlin-backed media organisation RIA Novosti. " decision to continue defending left bank of Dnieper did not come easily, but at same time we will preserve lives of our soldiers and combat capability of troop group," he ded, saying that "transfer will be carried out in near future."

'We see no sign': Ukraine on Russian troops withdrawing from Kherson state

Taking to Twitter, Podolyak wrote that Ukraine sees no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight. 

According to a Newsweek report, Galina Lugovaya, who is he of Kherson city military ministration, expressed concern over Russia's announcement of leaving Kherson oblast. Lugovaya said Kremlin troops are not likely to surrender Kherson without a battle. He claimed that Russian commander's announcement of retreat is designed to misle and Kremlin would possibly be laying a trap. "Not everything is as smooth as enemies make it out to be," he ded.

Meanwhile, Yuri Sobolevskyi, deputy he of Ukraine's regional council, told NBC News that Russians' removal of flags from occupied ministrative building in Kherson could have been done to make Ukrainian troops believe that y are withdrawing from region.

Russia managed to fend off Ukraine's counterattacks, says Sergey Surovikin

On or hand, Surovikin stated that  situation in region of Russia’s special military operation has generally stabilised, and Russian soldiers have managed to defend mselves from Ukraine’s counterattacks in direction of Krasny Liman and Kupyansk. He claimed that  attempted offensive by Ukrainian military on Kherson last night was repelled too. Russian general claimed that Ukrainian side is suffering significant losses. Russian commander asserted that Ukraine lost around 9.5 thousand men, accounting for both killed and wounded, in direction of Kherson since August.  

(Image: AP/Representative)