Ukraine wary of Russian pullout in Kherson

Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin called for all civilians to "be removed" from Kherson ahead of Ukrainian advances toward the city, raising the concern of a large, looming battle ahead.

Kyiv had warned earlier that what appeared to be a withdrawal of Moscow forces from the city was actually a trap to lure Ukrainian troops into Russian defensive positions that they have been fortifying for months. Kherson is the only regional capital captured by Russia during its invasion and losing it would be a high psychological blow to the Russian military.

The Russian defense ministry said more than 5,000 civilians daily have been evacuated from Kherson.

"Military engineers every day transport up to 1,200 civilian vehicles, both trucks and cars, as well as more than 5,000 civilians," the defense ministry said, adding they had been transported to the eastern bank of the Dnieper River.

Ukrainian officials said Friday that Moscow officials took down Russian flags on the main administrative building of Kherson that they have had control of since the early weeks of the war.

A counteroffensive in the south by Kyiv has moved Ukrainian forces closer to the regionally-important city as the Kremlin-controlled administration moved to an area outside of the city.

Yet, some 40,000 Russian troops appear to be digging in on the west bank of the Dnieper River in the city, its biggest buildup of the military there ever.

Kherson natives said Russian soldiers, patrols and checkpoints have dwindled in the city center and most citizens have left. The Kremlin-led administration is now operating 50 miles away. Those who are staying are doing so without power, heat and water because of past shelling.

"[The Institute for the Study of War] has observed that Russian forces are continuing to prepare fallback positions on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River while continuing to set up defensive positions northwest of Kherson city and transporting additional mobilized forces there," the Washington, D.C.-based institute said on Thursday.

"Some Russian elite units -- such as airborne forces and naval infantry -- are reportedly continuing to operate on the right (western) bank of the Dnipro River and their full withdrawal from northern Kherson Oblast would be a clearer indicator that Russian forces will not fight for Kherson city or settlements on the right bank."