The disappearance of the Russian flag from the top of the regional administration in the occupied city of Kherson on Thursday morning has sparked speculation about a possible withdrawal of Russian troops across the Dnieper River. Ukrainian authorities believe, however, that it may be a Russian ploy to lure its troops into a trap when they launch their offensive to recapture the regional capital.
Russian media in Kherson – including Komsomólskaya Pravda – reported that the Russian tricolor flag had been removed from the building while, instead, it remained in the block just opposite, that of the Ushakov Naval Academy.
The pro-Russian administration was already transferred days ago to the interior of the occupied territory on October 27, according to what Kirill Stremusov, number two of the occupation authorities, announced at the time. But speculation skyrocketed when today Stremusov himself told the Russian star journalist Vladimir Solovyov's television channel that "most likely, our units, our troops, will go to the left, and the people who did not have time to move from Kherson must be evacuated as quickly as possible.”
In this regard, the Ukrainian General Staff has already reported that Russian troops have begun to evacuate the civilian population not only from the right (west) bank of the Dnieper River but also from the left (east) up to at least 15 kilometers inside the occupied territory. It is also believed that civilians from the Kajovka dam area would be evacuated in the coming days.
Southern Defense Forces press spokeswoman Natalya Gumenyuk said the appearance of a Russian withdrawal "may be a provocation to create the impression that the settlements are abandoned, that it is safe to enter them. Considering that -the Russians- have been preparing for street fighting for a long time, we are aware of how they position their units in the planned action tactics."
Reports on Russia's intentions regarding Kherson have been confusing for weeks from Ukrainian and Western analysts. Based on statements by the Russian side, and specifically by General Surovikin, the possibility of a withdrawal to the left bank of the Dnieper has been considered, so as not to fight defending Kherson with the river behind us, but the arrival of some 87,000 conscripts to hold out in the city while the best troops fortified themselves across the river. Finally, and according to Kirilo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, it would be just the opposite and Russia would have its best units from the southern front inside the city.
