Russia retreating further in south after Kherson pullout

KYIV - Ukraine's military said on Thursday that Russia had pulled some troops from towns on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River from Kherson city, the first official Kyiv report of a Russian withdrawal from what is now the main front line in the south.

The statement gave only limited details and made no mention of any Ukrainian forces having crossed the Dnipro. Ukrainian officials also stressed that Russia had intensified shelling across the river, knocking out power again in Kherson, where electricity had only begun to be restored nearly three weeks after Russian troops vacated the city and fled across the river.

Since Russia abandoned Kherson last month, nine months into its invasion of Ukraine, the river now forms the entire southern stretch of the front. Russia has already told civilians to leave towns within 15km of the river and withdrew its civilian administration from the city of Nova Kakhovka on the river bank.

Ukrainian officials have previously said Russia pulled back some artillery near the river to safer positions further away, but until now had stopped short of saying Russian forces were quitting towns.