Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered Russian troops to withdraw from the west bank of the Dnipro River in the face of Ukrainian attacks near the southern city of Kherson, writes Euronews.

The announcement marks one of Russia’s most significant retreats and a potential turning point in the war, now nearing the end of its ninth month. But it has brought a sceptical response from Ukraine’s government.

Shoigu said on television that he would “proceed with the withdrawal of the soldiers” after a proposal by the commander of Russian operations in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin.

Surovikin, in overall command of the war, also appeared on TV. He acknowledged that it was “not at all an easy decision” to make but explained that it was no longer possible to supply Kherson city.

He said he proposed to take up defensive lines on the eastern bank of the river: “We will save the lives of our soldiers and fighting capacity of our units. Keeping them on the right (western) bank is futile. Some of them can be used on other fronts”.