Russia Ordered Troops To Begin Withdrawing Behind The Dnieper River

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered troops to begin withdrawing behind the Dnieper River. "Start withdrawing  troops and take all measures to ensure the safe movement of  personnel, weapons and equipment behind the Dnieper," the defense chief said. , which sets the task for the commander of the Integrated Group of Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine Sergey Surovikin. Surovikin briefed the Minister of Defense on the situation in this area on Wednesday. 

Defense along the border of the Dnieper barrier is the most convenient option for operations in the region. of the special military operation, said Surovikin. "If the Kiev regime resorts to greater drainage of water  from the reservoirs or increased missile attack on the Kakhovka Dam, this will create a flood that will inundate vast areas and cause civilian casualties.

A new threat to civilians and  complete isolation of our force group  on the right bank of the Dnieper will emerge. In these conditions, it is expedient to organize  defense along the  Dnieper border barrier," the commander said. “Comrade Minister of Defense, after a comprehensive assessment of the current situation, it is proposed to start defense along the left bank of the Dnieper,” Surovikin said. 

I understand that this is a very uncomfortable decision. At the  same time, what is most important, we will preserve the life of our military and the overall combat capability of the combined forces, which should not be kept in a limited area on the right bank. 

In addition, this will free up part of the forces and capabilities that will be involved in active operations, including  offensives in other directions in the zone of operations," the general reported. Earlier, the Russian defense chief asked Surovikin to report on the situation in the Kherson region. 

After hearing the report, the Minister of Defense agreed with the commander's conclusions and proposals. “For us, the life and health of the Russian military always comes first. We must also take into account the threat to the civilian population,” emphasized the defense chief.