Russians undermined boiler rooms, a TV tower and fully destroyed the Antonivka Road Bridge in Kherson.
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation does not comment on the retreat of the russian troops to the left bank of the Kherson region. But russian war correspondents claim that there is no russian forces on the right bank anymore. Meanwhile, soldiers that had been left in the city started to throw their military uniforms away and wear civilian clothes. Either way, russian defense line is almost near Kherson.
Read more: What Forces Russia Now Concentrated Near Kherson and What It Is Actually Preparing For
According to the Defense Express’s sources, despite the “there is no russian forces on the right bank anymore” statements, russians still hope to organise a new line on the outskirts of Kherson. Tomyna Balka, Novokairy, Krutiy Yiar and Elyzavetivka (Novoelyzavetivka) are considered as a backbone for the defense. So they keep bringing concrete pillboxes and dragon's teeth from temporarily occupied Crimea.
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that “the troops withdrew from the right bank, no casualties” at 12:00 p.m. on November 11, 2022.
Presumably, there were the 1st Army Corps units, recruited from “forced mobilisation” on the temporarily occupied Donbas and the remains of the 3rd Army Corps units recruited from “hidden mobilisation” in russia, Defense Express’s sources report.
The units of the 22nd Army Corps of the coastal defence troops of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy and the 7th Guards Mountain Air Assault Division, which were supposed to cover temporarily occupied Crimea were spotted on this territory. The units of the 49th Combined Arms Army and the 8th Guards Order of Lenin Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District were noticed as well. These units belong to one military district but there is a big quality difference between them. Nevertheless, russia decided to put them all together to hold their positions in the Kherson region. Moreover, there were the 36th Combined Arms Army, the 35th Combined Arms Red Banner Army units and separate units of the Central Military District.
In conclusion, firstly, russia have nothing to cover their positions in temporarily occupied Crimea. So digging the sconces is the only one available defense strategy.
Secondly, the units deployed to the Kherson region were subordinated to 3 military districts, divided among 4 combined arms armies and 2 army corps. It greatly hampered the withdrawal, considering a lack of structure. The corresponding order of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation accelerated the collapse of these groups.
Thus, this unstructured contingent won’t be able to organise proper defense on the left bank or transfer to other territories.
Read more: Ukraine’s General Staff Operational Report: russian Forces’ Concentration Area Hit by Defence Forces of Ukraine