Are Russian Forces Retreating or Pulling Back To Regroup?
Sun 8:33 am +01:00, 11 Sep 2022
Introduction – Sept 10, 2022
Ukrainian forces have made surprise gains in their counter-offensive in the Kharkiv region, reportedly recapturing dozens of towns and villages in a mechanised assault.
Their rapid advance met little Russian resistance as in many areas as Russian troops were apparently ordered to withdraw further east in order to regroup.
Despite claiming a “substantial victory”, the Ukrainians may have walked into a dangerous trap. For in some instances Ukrainian units were reported to have advanced by as much 50kms.
On the face of it that may sound impressive but it also means that Ukrainian forces will have dangerously extended their supply lines and their defensive perimeter. Making them much them much more vulnerable in the event of a Russian attack. Ed.
Russian military explains partial withdrawal
RT.com – Sept 10, 2022
The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed the withdrawal of troops from multiple locations across Ukraine’s Kharkov region. The development comes amid a offensive in the area by Kiev.
“In order to achieve the goals of the special military operation, a decision was made to regroup troops in the areas of Balakleya and Izyum in order to build up efforts in the Donetsk direction,”the Russian military said in a statement on Saturday.
The troops stationed in the area have been “re-deployed” over the past three days into territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the ministry claimed. During the operation, the military has performed a “number of distracting and demonstration activities imitating the real action of troops,” it added, without providing any further detail on said maneuvers.
In order to prevent “damage to Russian troops,” the military has been subjecting Ukrainian units in the area to “powerful” artillery, missile and aircraft attacks, the ministry said, claiming destruction of over 100 armor pieces and artillery, as well as elimination of “more than 2,000 Ukrainian and foreign fighters” in the past three days.
The withdrawal comes amid a massive Ukrainian offensive that was launched in Kharkov Region on Thursday. The assault was preceded by attempts to advance in other areas, namely near the Russia-controlled southern Ukrainian city of Kherson
Residents in Russian-controlled parts of Kharkiv told to evacuate to Russia
Residents in Russian-controlled parts of the Kharkiv region have been advised to evacuate to Russia, according to the state-run news agency Tass.
The area’s Russian-installed administrator Vitaly Ganchev reportedly said doing so would “save lives”.
It comes after the Russian defence ministry said it was pulling troops out of two key towns in the region as Ukrainian troops made rapid advances.
The towns, Izium and Balakliya, are crucial military supply hubs.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia’s adjoining Belgorod region, said on messaging app Telegram that food, heating and medical assistance were being provided to people queuing to enter Russia in vehicles at the Logachevka border crossing.
Andrey Turchak, a senior official in the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, said a volunteer corps had been deployed to help those fleeing Ukraine for Russia, and reported more than 400 vehicles at the border.
