Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered his troops to withdraw from the illegally annexed city of Kherson and surrounding areas on the west bank of the Dnipro River in the face of Ukrainian attacks.
The announcement marked one of Russia's most significant retreats and a potential turning point in the war, now nearing the end of its ninth month, even as Ukraine's officials say they remain sceptical of the statement.
In televised comments, General Sergei Surovikin, in overall command of the war, said it was no longer possible to supply Kherson.
"Having comprehensively assessed the current situation, it is proposed to take up defence along the left [eastern] bank of the Dnipro River," said Mr Surovikin, standing at a lectern and indicating troop positions on a map whose details were greyed-out for the TV audience.
"I understand that this is a very difficult decision, but at the same time we will preserve the most important thing — the lives of our servicemen and, in general, the combat effectiveness of the group of troops, which it is futile to keep on the right bank in a limited area."
The news followed weeks of Ukrainian advances towards the city and a race by Russia to relocate more than 100,000 of its residents.
Mr Shoigu told Mr Surovikin: "I agree with your conclusions and proposals. For us,the life and health of Russian servicemen is always a priority. We must also take into account the threats to the civilian population."
"Proceed with the withdrawal of troops and take all measures to ensure the safe transfer of personnel, weapons and equipment across the Dnipro River."
Kherson is the main city of the region of the same name — one of four Ukrainian regions which President Vladimir Putin proclaimed in September he was incorporating into Russia "forever".
The announcement had been anticipated by influential Russian war bloggers, who described it as a bitter blow.
"Apparently we will leave the city, no matter how painful it is to write about it now," said the War Gonzo blog, which has more than 1.3 million subscribers on Telegram.
"In simple terms, Kherson can't be held with bare hands," it said.
"This is a black page in the history of the Russian army. Of the Russian state. A tragic page."
However, Ukraine remains sceptical of the announcement, with a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying that it was too early to talk about a Russian troop pullout from Kherson.
"We see no signs that Russia is leaving Kherson without a fight," Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter.
"A part of the (Russian) group is preserved in the city, and additional reserves are charged to the region.
"Ukraine is liberating territories based on intelligence data, not staged TV statements."
Yaroslav Yanushevych, Kherson's Ukrainian-appointed governor, called on residents "not to give in to euphoria" just yet.
Another Ukrainian-appointed Kherson regional official, Serhii Khlan, told reporters that Russian forces had blown up five bridges to slow the advance of Kyiv's forces.
In addition to the largely successful counteroffensive, Ukrainian resistance fighters behind the frontline have worked inside Kherson, with acts of sabotage and assassinations of Moscow-appointed officials.
Prominent Russian official dies
The news comes as one of Moscow's most prominent officials in the Kherson region was reportedly killed in a car crash on Wednesday.
There was no indication of foul play.
The death of Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian-installed local administration, was confirmed by his boss Vladimir Saldo, the Russia-backed acting governor of Kherson.
Mr Stremousov went from being an obscure blogger and local politician before the Russian invasion on February 24 to become the number two figure in what Ukraine says is the illegal occupation of Kherson, which it plans to overturn by force.
Mr Stremousov was a highly visible face on social media, pumping out pro-Moscow statements.
In the most recent, hours before his death, he denounced what he called Ukrainian "Nazis" and said the Russian military was in "full control" of the situation in the south.
Ukraine viewed him as a collaborator and a traitor.
"It is very hard for me to say that Kirill Stremousov died today," Mr Saldo said.
"He died on the territory of the Kherson region, travelling in a car that got into an accident."
Mr Stremousov, one of the highest profile occupation figures, had hinted in recent days that Moscow might pull its forces out of the Russian-controlled pocket on the west bank of the Dnipro, the most closely watched sector of the front line.
Zelenskyy says Russian drone attacks continue
The Russian retreat announcement came as villages and towns in Ukraine saw more heavy fighting and shelling on Wednesday.
At least nine civilians were killed and 24 wounded in 24 hours, Mr Zelenskyy's office said.
It accused Russia of using explosive drones, rockets, heavy artillery and aircraft to attack eight regions in the south-east.
Ukrainian and Russian forces also clashed overnight at Snihurivka, 50 kilometres north of Kherson.
The president's office said widespread Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy system continued.
Two cities not far from Europe's largest nuclear power plant were shelled overnight, it said.
More than 20 residential buildings, an industrial plant, a gas pipeline and a power line were reportedly damaged in Nikopol across the Dnieper River from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Further west, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Ukrainian governor reported "massive" overnight strikes with exploding Iranian-made drones that wounded four energy company workers in the city of Dnipro.
ABC/Reuters/AP
