A number of “Russian troops have drowned” in Ukraine while trying to flee a liberated city in Kherson.
The claims come from an aide to the Ukrainian regional governor about the southern region, which Ukrainian forces regained in the last few days after Russian withdrawal.
The troops received orders to flee the Kherson region due to the area being almost under full control by Ukraine after Russia announced it would retreat from the West Bank of the Dnipro river.
Now, the Ukrainian side are claiming that many soldiers drowned in their escape.
Serhiy Khlan, a council deputy, said residents of the city were being instructed to stay indoors while they search for any remaining troops.
The Express report of wounded Russian soldiers being abandoned by fellow troops as they flee.
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed there were no soldiers and not a single piece of kit left on the western side of the river, which includes the city of Kherson.
It claimed it had not suffered any loss of troops or equipment during the retreating process.
But one unidentified Russian soldier posted an account of the retreat online, describing one unit throwing away its uniforms and changing into civilian clothing.
“Hey everyone, guys, I’m alive,” the soldier said, his face visibly tired against the backdrop of a night sky.
“What can I say? Everything I’ve been saying has happened. Those trying to find justification for this, comparing it with Borodino [the bloody battle during Napoleon’s invasion of Russia] or anything else can, you can tell them to go fuck themselves. Those who think everything will be fine next, tell them to go fuck themselves.
“They are digging fortifications in Crimea and in one unit, which I won’t name, the last order was to change into civilian clothing and fuck off any way you want.”
READ NEXT:
