Russia Mines River as Soldiers Prepare Kherson Retreat: Kyiv

Russia is mining a river in southern Ukraine as its soldiers prepare to retreat from the city of Kherson, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

In a video statement, the spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Štupun, gave an update on the eight-month-old conflict, saying Ukrainian forces had repelled Russian attacks in the east of the country.

"The enemy is firing at our troops' positions along the line of encounter and conducting air reconnaissance. Over the past 24 hours, the adversary launched missile and air strikes on infrastructure and housing of civilians, violating the standards of international humanitarian law, laws and customs of warfare," he said, according to an English translation of the statement posted on Facebook.

"In total, in the previous day, the invaders fired 3 missile and 12 air strikes," he said.

Speaking about the south of the country, the spokesperson outlined preparations Russian forces are making for a possible retreat from the city of Kherson back across the Dnieper River.

He described how the Russians were laying mines along the river to the north of Kherson city which would help defend Russian positions on the east side of the Dnieper River and make it harder for the Ukrainians to cross.

"According to the available information, the opponent is equipped with defensive positions on the left [eastern] bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region ... In the area of the settlement of Gornostayivka, engineering and [sapper] units of the Russian occupation troops conduct coastline mining, leaving small passages for the potential retreat of their troops from the right bank."

On Saturday, Russian-installed authorities in Kherson urged residents to evacuate "immediately" as they prepare for Ukrainian forces to fight for control of the city. Up to 60,000 civilians are expected to evacuate Kherson, which lies on the west bank of the Dnieper River. Evacuees are being told to travel to other Russian-occupied regions.

Sea mines are not banned by international agreements, unlike landmines, according to a Guardian report. However, the use of these mines does come with some rules under international humanitarian law. For example, states can place them in their territorial waters to defend their coasts from external attacks.

The British Ministry of Defence said in August the U.K. was giving underwater drones to Ukraine and training Ukrainian personnel in Britain to use them to clear their coastline of mines.

Six autonomous minehunting vehicles would be sent to the country to help detect Russian mines in the waters off its coast, the ministry said.

The lightweight autonomous vehicles are designed for use in shallow coastal environments, operating effectively at depths of up to 100 meters to detect mines using an array of sensors so the Ukrainian Navy can destroy them.

Štupun described how the situation in Kherson was deteriorating as Russia pressed ahead with the evacuation of the city.

"The evacuation measures of locals from temporarily occupied Kherson are ongoing. Equipment and staff of all banks and occupation administration were taken out from the right side of the city, to the settlements of Genichesk and Skadovsk. Equipment of internet providers has been stolen.

"Evacuations are subject to operational services representatives and medical staff. Financing schools and providing food to children in schools has been stopped. The number of robberies by locals and looting cases has increased," he said.

Newsweek has contacted Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.