It has been all over the MSM. Russia is apparently abandoning Kherson without a fight. Do you think this is a trap? Or a ruse of some kind? Or has Russia finished their Denazification efforts?
This feels like a defeat, but I know the MSM makes it really difficult to see through the fog of war.
The situation there for Russia was not defendable and they did not want their troops to be encircled - so they have chosen to move to the other side of the river. They have spent several weeks evacuating civilians for the same reasons. The Ukrainians have been bombing the dam upriver and a breach was not a possibility the Russians wanted to deal with. If the bridges were washed out, civilians and personnel would have been stranded.
One thing about Russian tactics. They have no problem withdrawing in order to save personnel and equipment. They do not view these things as defeat - but as tactical moves in the overall operation. They live to fight another day and do not need the optics. The Ukrainians however, have no hesitation at expending lives and equipment for a photo op and headlines. The Ukrainians will spend the currency of precious lives in order to keep the grift from the West flowing. The main objectives for Russia as part of the military operation in Ukraine was to secure the Russian citizens of the Eastern areas and to demilitarize the Ukrainians. These objectives continue to be met. The withdrawal from Kherson in no way detracts from those overall objectives. They most likely will be back - after weakening the Ukrainians even more.
Do we know what Russia's objectives are? And I'm not talking about what the MSM thinks there objectives are (which are laughable bad). I mean, their real objectives and end game.
Put an end to the genocide and western expansion.
Yes. Russia has made no secret about what their objectives have been for this operation into Ukraine. The objectives have been to demilitarize Ukraine, as in Nazis, and to liberate Eastern Ukrainians that had been brutalized by Ukraine since 2014 by constant missile bombardment. Also in the process of these first two objectives, Russia has secured a land corridor to Crimea and turned their water back on - which the Ukrainians had shut off. Unlike what the western media has been promoting, this operation for the Russians was never about taking territory. That is why Russia has no problems withdrawing from areas rather than have their soldiers killed and equipment lost just to have bragging rights.
Russia's goal in the beginning was to get Ukraine to the bargaining table in an attempt to get Ukraine to agree to follow the Minsk agreement which did not allow NATO expansion into Ukraine. They almost had a peace treaty back in March when they met in Turkey. That is when Russia had surrounded Kiev - just to keep them in place. Russia in a show of good will withdrew from Kiev. Their good will gesture was met with Kiev reneging on the deal when Bojo from the UK convinced Zelenskyy to back out. There is no incentive at this point for Russia to believe anything the collective West or Ukraine puts forth. Therefore, they have worked to liberate Donetsk and Luhansk regions of the Donbass and to fortify Crimea - basically Eastern Ukraine which are primarily Russians unlike the West which is mostly Ukrainian. I have interest here because my mother's family originates from this area but to the north.
Honestly, Russia intervened into what would have been massive ethnic cleansing of the Donbass. Ukraine, backed by NATO, was amassing large forces to invade Donbass. Russia simply beat them to the punch and saved those people. Something you will never hear from western media.
It's a strategic move.
Look at the geography of where Kherson is. As winter approaches it will be a lot easier to defend and supply from there with no risk of units being trapped across the river.
It just feels like they keep moving in the wrong direction. I don't understand why there is this huge ruse of looking weak and encouraging the Ukrainians. Maybe it will make sense later, but if feels like they just keep giving more and more up, when they should be able to press forward.
You need to think strategically. What has Russia given up?
The area the Russian gave up before had no strategic value, so why waste effort and lives fighting over swampland?
If the Russians had kept forces on the right bank of the Dnieper river (think that's what it's called), there would be a risk of those forces being cut off from the main force and possibly defeated.
The Russians pulled their forces back to a natural defensive line where they can rest and regroup, especially with the cold weather approaching.
Any territory given up by Russia forces Ukraine to spread their forces out over a much broader area and Ukraine has basically only gained an empty city for now.
It may also be a ploy for peace talks. Allow Ukraine to keep that territory if they come to the table. The river would be a natural border between the two sides.
Sometimes you need to give a little to gain a lot.
Here is the reason why Russia has made this move. The Dnieper river is big and wide. It provides logistical problems for Russia on the west bank. This area west of the river is open steppe country. Russia is wisely uses the east bank as the demarcation line for defense.
Three influential effects will happen as a result of Russia's move. First, recognize the goal is to win the war. Never fight a battle when it risks losing a large number of personnel and equipment. Battles need to be fought strategically and this sometimes means withdrawing from territory that provides too much risk for supplies and personnel and repositioning them in other areas. The west bank of the Dnieper river is such a place.
The UkoNazis have been planning an offensive in the region. Many of their troops have been moved here readying for their planned Kherson offensive. In response, Russia wisely is avoiding a bloody conflict to which military personnel would be lost and instead reestablished a fairly impenetrable defense on the east bank of the Dnieper River. This move avoids the west bank Russian military from being cut off from supplies and reinforcements. The logistics for adequately supplying the west bank Russian military is very difficult.
The 2nd influential effect will be the immediate consequence of the media response being bad for Russia publicity wise. However, the 3rd influential effect will be this strategy is actually very wise for the longer term both in strategy and PR because the action of withdrawing Russian troops from the west bank will allow many of these troops to be redeployed in the Donetsk and Luhansk region. As a result, the Uko forces will decouple their offensive in the Kherson region. No battle will occur there. Russia simply withdraws temporarily.
The objective is to reinforce the territory already controlled with military personnel. The Russian offensive will occur in the Donesk and Luhansk regions because the logistics there is so much easier for Russia to supply with armaments. Once the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts are 'filled' out and the remaining territory taken, the focus will turn to the Zaporizhzhia Oblast and a return to the Kherson Oblast. In the end, the long term objective is sound. However, the short-term media response will be bad for Russia and will only encourage the West and NATO.
^^similar to my thoughts
A retreat causes a vacuum. What goes in after the vacuum will determine what action Russia takes.
Just ask yourself who has food, heat, water, and lights---and who doesn't. Which is better: to control lots of territory at the price of killing or injuring your armed forces---or to control limited territory while obliterating your enemy? If the Ukrainians knew what total disregard Zelensky has for the lives of his troops, he would be strung up like Mussolini.
Smart move. Why sacrifice lives over an empty plain? This is a war of attrition on Russia's part. No hurry to siege a big chunk of nowhere.
Also today is veterans day too in most of Europe and Russia. Not just in the US. Bear slaying day in LV 😉
Thank you for asking this question - I just came to ask the same thing but searched first.