Jakarta –
Russia withdraws its troops to southern Ukraine, Cherson, as Kyiv said its troops were entering the city. As many as 30,000 troops are said to have withdrawn.
“In total, more than 30,000 Russian servicemen, about 5,000 pieces of equipment, military equipment and materials have been withdrawn,” the Russian defense ministry said, AFP reported on Saturday (12/11/2022).
“Not a single piece of military equipment or weapons was left on the right (west) bank,” he said.
The announcement of the withdrawal took place on Friday (11/11).
Reuters reported, Ukrainian residents were delighted to welcome Ukrainian troops who arrived in central Kherson on Friday (11/11). Russia is leaving behind the only regional capital it has captured since its invasion last February.
“Today is a historic day. We got the south back, we got Kherson back,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a late night video address.
“As of now, our defenders are on the outskirts of the city, and we are very close to entering. But the special units are already in the city,” he said.
|
Ukrainians celebrate the withdrawal of Russian troops and the return of Kherson to Ukrainian control. Photo: AFP/GENYA SAVILOV
|
Video footage verified by Reuters shows dozens of people cheering and chanting victory slogans in a central square in the city of Kherson, where the first Ukrainian troops to arrive took selfies of the crowd.
Two men shouldered a female soldier and threw her into the air. Some residents wrapped themselves in the Ukrainian flag. A man weeps for joy.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Agency said Kherson would be returned to Ukrainian control and ordered the remaining Russian troops to surrender to Kiev forces entering the city.
Locals had hoisted Ukrainian flags in the square as news of the end of more than eight months of occupation filtered through.
“Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes! Glory to the nation!” shouted a man in another video verified by Reuters.
(ok ok)
