The head of the Ministry of Defense Sergei Shoigu listened to the report of the commander Sergei Surovikin and ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson. The video recording of the meeting was published on the telegram channel of the ministry.
Surovkikin said that due to the shelling of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, there is a «threat of isolation» of the Russian group of troops on the right bank of the Dnieper, therefore «the most appropriate option is to organize defense along the barrier line of the Dnieper River.» He offered to take up defense on the left bank of the Dnieper.
Shoigu agreed with Surovikin and stressed that it was important for the command to save the lives of the military and avoid civilian casualties.
Kherson has been under Russian control since March 2.
«A bit of panic.» Russia has announced an evacuation from Kherson and promises everyone apartments, but mostly collaborators are leaving the city