Ukraine's Recapture of Kherson Imminent... Russia Urges "Cross the River Quickly" Evacuation Order

Western Bank Area of Dnipro River, Evacuated by Boat
"Not Abandoning Kherson" Denies Withdrawal Rumors

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The local Russian administration in Kherson, the largest strategic point on the southern front of Ukraine, announced a large-scale evacuation order for residents and is evacuating them by ship. The western bank area of the Dnipro River, which divides the city east to west, is expected to be soon recaptured by Ukrainian forces, raising the possibility that Russian troops may conduct a full withdrawal to minimize losses. This area connects the Crimean Peninsula and the eastern Donbas region, and if it falls, the situation for Russian forces is expected to deteriorate rapidly.

According to CNN on the 19th (local time), Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian administration in occupied Kherson, posted a video on his Telegram account stating, "Ukrainian Nazi units supported by the West will soon attack the entire Kherson area," and advised, "Residents are urged to move quickly to the east side of the Dnipro River."

Earlier, the Russian administration in occupied Kherson announced that for the next six days, they would mobilize ships daily to move 10,000 residents from the western bank of the Dnipro River to the east. However, as the Ukrainian military's advance accelerates, the evacuation operation is presumed to be becoming difficult. Entry of civilians from outside areas into Kherson city has also been completely banned.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Vladimir Saldo, head of the Kherson occupation administration, said, "The Ukrainian military is preparing a large-scale attack, and Russian forces are ready to repel it," adding, "We issued the evacuation order to protect residents, and our troops will never abandon Kherson," strongly denying rumors of withdrawal.

However, the main defensive line in western Kherson has already collapsed, and with the Ukrainian military bombing the Antonovsky Bridge, a key bridge facility in Kherson, the city is expected to be soon recaptured by Ukrainian forces. It is known that the Ukrainian military recently bombed and cut off major Russian supply lines using the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) provided by the United States.

If Russia loses Kherson, the first strategic point it occupied since the start of the war, the situation in other occupied areas is also expected to worsen significantly. Kherson connects the Crimean Peninsula and the Donbas region and supplies 80% of the water and electricity within the Crimean Peninsula.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.