Russia is creating an “illusion” by appearing to leave Kherson but is actually preparing to defend the city, Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov warned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the Ukraine invasion on February 24, hoping for a quick victory. But Ukraine, bolstered by Western aid, has blunted military gains for eight months, launching counteroffensives to retake occupied territory.
The counteroffensives in September saw quick success in eastern Ukraine, where thousands of square miles of Russia-occupied territory around Kharkiv were retaken. Ukraine’s progress in southern Ukraine has been slower, but its military has reclaimed areas north of Kherson, which is also the name of the region encompassing the city.
Now, Russian military leaders are preparing for Ukraine to try to reclaim the city.
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.
However, Budanov, in an interview with Ukainska Pravda, said the evacuation is not an indication that Russia is prepared to give up the strategic city, which serves as a gateway to Crimea, a region Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
He described Russia’s Kherson evacuation as “an information operation and manipulation.” He said the Kremlin is removing its installed authorities, as well as injured soldiers, from the city. However, they are replacing them with new military units in preparation for a fight.
“That is, they create the illusion that everything is gone. And at the same time, on the contrary, they bring new military units there and prepare the streets of the city for defense,” Budanov said.
He added that Russian forces are preparing the groundwork to quickly flee Kherson if Ukrainian soldiers reclaim the city, which was among the first major areas Moscow claimed when the war began eight months ago.
“However, they are not preparing to exit now,” Budanov said. “They are preparing to defend.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Russians are “clearly aware” they will face losses in the southern part of the country amid reports Russian forces might launch a “false-flag” attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.
“And if Russia is preparing such a terrorist attack, if it is seriously considering such a scenario, it means the terrorists are clearly aware that they will not be able to keep not only Kherson but also the entire south of our country, including Crimea,” he said.
Budanov said he does not believe Russia will completely destroy the dam, warning that doing so would block its ability to supply water to Crimea until Ukraine repairs the dam.
“But they will be forced to retreat directly to the Crimea. In other words, if you make a complete destruction, then the scenario is as follows. Are they ready for it? I think not,” he said.
