Moscow has ordered its troops to withdraw from the strategic southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in a setback, with the top US military general estimating Russian casualties at more than 100,000. since his neighbor attacked them in February.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Wednesday that Russian forces are withdrawing from the western bank of the Dnipro River near Kherson, which could become a battleground.
Ukraine responded cautiously to the withdrawal of the Russian army, noting that some Russian troops remained in Kherson, and aid was being sent to the region.
“They are withdrawing but not to the extent that would have happened if it was a complete withdrawal or retreat,” said Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“The Russian troops were destroying bridges on their way out and digging up roads,” Arestovych said.
The top US general, General Mark Milley, estimated on Wednesday that the Russian military had suffered more than 100,000 soldiers killed or wounded, and added that Kyiv’s armed forces were “likely” to suffered a similar loss at that level.
As many as 40,000 Ukrainian civilians may also have been killed, according to General Mark Milley.
The figures were not independently verified by the Reuters news agency.
General Mark Milley, speaking to the Economic Club of New York, did not say how he calculated those estimates.
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