Ukraine Time-Lapse Map Details How Russia Retreated From Kherson

A new map focusing on the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine shows how Russia retreated from Kherson. The military withdrawal from the southern city last week marked the third major retreat by President Vladimir Putin's troops since the war began on February 24.

The Newsweek time-lapse map shows that fighting continues in the eastern parts of Ukraine, particularly the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, or provinces. In the country's southern region, Ukrainian forces have retaken Kherson and fighting continues around the surrounding area, according to the map.

Ukraine's defense intelligence agency said on November 11 that Kherson was being restored to Ukrainian control and called for any remaining Russian soldiers to surrender to its troops entering the city. Earlier this month, the Russian-installed deputy civilian administrator of the Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, said Russian troops would try to regroup on the eastern side of the Dnieper River.

"Most likely, our units, our soldiers, will leave for the left [eastern] bank," Stremousov said during an interview with pro-Kremlin online media outlet Solovyov Live. (Last week, Russian state news agencies reported that he had been killed in a car accident.)

Stremousov told Solovyov Live that civilians remaining in the city should leave to ensure they are out of danger. His comments as well as the troops' retreat generated fears that the Russians were setting a trap and that a strong counterattack could result.

The Institute for the Study of War's (ISW) latest update indicated that Russian forces are going to intensify their operations in the Donetsk province following their withdrawal, rather than returning to Kherson.

"As ISW assessed on November 13, Russian forces will likely recommit troops to Donetsk Oblast after leaving the right bank of Kherson Oblast, which will likely lead to an intensification of operations around Bakhmut, Donetsk City, and in western Donetsk Oblast," the think tank's November 14 update said.

"Russian forces will likely make gains in these areas in the coming days and weeks, but these gains are unlikely to be operationally significant. The Russian [Ministry of Defense] is likely making more concrete territorial claims in order to set information conditions to frame Russian successes in Donetsk Oblast and detract from discontent regarding losses in Kherson Oblast," the ISW said.

While there may be a recommitment of troops, a guest on a Russian state TV program recently said the country was not prepared for the war when it was launched. The head of the Expert Council of Russia's Strategic Development Fund, Igor Shatrov, made the comments following the retreat from Kherson.

"We aren't seeing results," Shatrov said during an appearance on Mesto Vstrechi (Meeting Point) as he discussed the conflict in Ukraine with the show's other guests.

Newsweek has reached out to Ukraine's and Russia's foreign affairs ministries for comment.