Advisor to the head of Zelensky's office: Ukraine sees no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight

Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, said that it was too early to talk about the retreat of Russian troops from Kherson.

“Ukraine sees no sign that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight,” he tweeted .

“We need to distinguish between words and deeds. Until the Ukrainian flag flies over Kherson, it is pointless to talk about the withdrawal of Russian troops. And Ukraine no longer takes into account the statements of Russia, ”Podolyak said in a comment to Reuters.

An adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine added that a group of Russian troops is still in the city, and Russia continues to draw up additional reserves.

“Ukraine is liberating territories based on intelligence data, and not orchestrated television statements,” Podolyak said.

In turn, Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, wrote in a telegram: “Some people think that they are very cunning… But we are one step ahead.” The head of the Nikolaev region, Vitaly Kim, said : "If the Russians say something, then they will do the opposite!" The head of the press center of the operational command of the Ukrainian army "South" Natalya Gumenyuk called the statements about the withdrawal of Russian troops from Kherson "staged show."

• In the second half of October, Sergei Surovikin, commander of the Russian grouping of troops in Ukraine , told Russian state media that there was a "difficult situation" in the Kherson direction and admitted that "difficult decisions" could be made in the future.
• During a report to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on November 9, Surovikin said that he considered attempts to defend the right bank of the Dnieper to be “unpromising”. Shoigu agreed with him and ordered the transfer of troops to the left bank, which means the surrender of Kherson.