Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv starts recapturing Kherson as Putin’s forces retreat

In what could be one of the biggest turning points in the war, the Russian troops are withdrawing from Kherson and the Ukrainian forces have already retaken dozens of villages in the region.

It is one of the biggest retreats from Russia since the war in Ukraine started. Kherson was the only provincial capital Russia had captured since Ukraine's invasion.

Latest update: “Today, on November 10, 2022, Snihurivka was liberated by the forces of the 131st Separate Intelligence Battalion. Glory to Ukraine!” a Ukrainian army commander declared on Thursday (November 10).

Ukraine’s army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said Ukrainian troops had advanced 7 km in the past 24 hours and had recaptured 12 settlements in the south, reported Reuters.

Ukrainian counter-offensive: Zaluzhnyi said Kyiv’s forces have advanced 36.5 kilometers and retaken 41 villages and towns since October 1 in the Kherson province, reported AP.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky on Thursday night said that the pace of his army's counter-offensive has increased so much that residents “are now checking almost every hour where our units have reached and where else our national flag was raised.”

City of Death: A Ukrainian official on Thursday said that Russian land mines could make Kherson a “city of death.” Ukrainian Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Russian troops laid mines throughout Kherson as they withdrew to turn it into a “city of death,” reported AP.

#Ukrainian forces steadily advanced in #Kherson Oblast on November 10 as #Russian forces conduct a withdrawal to the east (left) bank of the #Dnipro River.https://t.co/R32T0rDk8F pic.twitter.com/kYmo6m4Riw

— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) November 11, 2022

Russia's response: The Russian defense ministry confirmed that its army's withdrawal was underway in Kherson. “The Russian troop units are manoeuvring to a prepared position on the left bank of the Dnipro River in strict accordance with the approved plan,” The Guardian reported quoting the ministry statement.

Reuters reported that Russian state media and pro-Kremlin war experts have defended the withdrawal as a necessary move while acknowledging that it is a heavy blow for Vladimir Putin

Russian offensive continues in some parts: Even as they are suffering massive defeats in many parts, Russian forces have continued offensive operations near Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and in western Donetsk, reported the Institute of War. The think tank reported that the Russian forces have also begun constructing second line fortifications in Crimea and southern Ukraine.

US to give more weapons to Ukraine: The US is going to buy South Korean howitzer rounds and give them to the Ukrainian army. The US will buy 100,000 rounds of howitzer artillery from South Korean manufacturers to provide to Ukraine, a US official said Thursday," reported France24.

Death and destruction so far: The most senior US General estimates that around 100,000 Russian and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured in the war in Ukraine, reported BBC. Gen Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, also suggested that around 40,000 civilians had died after being caught up in the fight between the forces.

The latest UN figures however found 6,430 civilian deaths in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country. The war in Ukraine has also led to one of the worst refugee crises ever. More than 6.7 people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded their country.