Russia withdrawing troops from Kherson, the only regional capital in Ukraine that it had captured

Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia's military has announced that it's withdrawing from the western bank of the Dnieper River in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, annexed by Moscow in September. The top Russian military commander in Ukraine, Gen. Sergei Surovikin, reported to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Wednesday that it was impossible to deliver supplies to the city of Kherson and other areas on the western bank, and Shoigu agreed with his proposal to retreat and set up defenses on the eastern bank.   The withdrawal from the city of Kherson is a major setback for Russia — it is the only regional capital Russian forces had seized during the eight-month war.

The Russian-installed authorities ordered all residents of Kherson to leave "immediately" in late October, ahead of an expected advance by Ukrainian troops who have been waging a counteroffensive aimed at recapturing the occupied area.

Ukraine's presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak stressed on Wednesday that the effort to retake the city wasn't yet complete, however, saying as long as the Ukrainian flag isn't flying over Kherson, it makes "no sense" to discuss a Russian retreat.