Ukraine advances in 2 different directions in southern Ukraine over past day: Military

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukraine’s military has made advances in two different directions in southern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, a top Ukrainian military official said, as Russia announced its withdrawal from the western bank of the Dnieper River.

“Over the past day alone, in the direction of Petropavlovsk-Novoraisk, units of the defense forces advanced 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), took control of six settlements, and returned up to 107 square kilometers (41.3 square miles) of territory to Ukraine,” Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said on Telegram.

Zaluzhnyi further said six other settlements in the direction of Pervomaiske-Kherson were re-captured, adding that the advance in this direction was seven kilometers (4.3 miles) and meant that a total area of 157 square kilometers (60.6 square miles) was re-captured by the Ukrainian army.

Zaluzhnyi noted that the Ukrainian army advanced up to 36.5 km (22.6 mi), re-captured a total area of 1,381 square kilometers (533.2 square miles) and restored control over 41 settlements since Oct. 1.

“So far, we cannot confirm or deny the information about the so-called withdrawal of Russian occupation forces from Kherson. We continue to conduct the offensive operation in accordance with our plan,” he added.

The development came as the Russian army started moving troops from Ukraine's Kherson city to the eastern bank of the Dnieper River on Thursday, the Defense Ministry announced.

Russia’s defense minister on Wednesday ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine’s southern port city of Kherson to the eastern bank of the Dnieper River.

Sergey Shoygu stressed that the decision for the retreat was made to save the lives of Russian soldiers.