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Ukrainian forces advance as Russia says all troops have left key city
Ukraine's armed forces swept toward the key city of Kherson Friday as Russia said its military had completed its retreat.
International
Ukraine's armed forces swept through southern villages and towns on a march to retake the key city of Kherson Friday as Russia said its military had completed a humiliating retreat from the area.
Moscow's defense ministry said in a statement reported by state news agencies early Friday that its troops and equipment had been withdrawn from the western bank of the Dnieper River by 5 a.m. local time (9 p.m. ET) — finalizing a pullout that marks one of the biggest setbacks of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war.
It follows a grinding Ukrainian counteroffensive and a race by Russia to relocate more than 100,000 residents in the area.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the episode was embarrassing for Putin, who only weeks ago had proclaimed the region's annexation. "Kyiv does not want negotiations. The special military operation continues," Peskov said in his daily press briefing.
Ukraine's military said that another 12 settlements had been liberated throughout the strategically important southern areas surrounding Kherson since the Russian retreat was announced Wednesday.
But Kyiv officials remained wary, warning that Russian forces could inflict severe military and civilian damage through artillery strikes and mines left behind as they pulled out.
A key bridge over the Dnieper River was left in ruins in the wake of the Russian exit, according to images and video that emerged Friday and were verified by NBC News.
The Antonivskiy Bridge is the only road crossing from the city of Kherson to the eastern bank of the river, where Russian forces have now established their new defensive lines.
At least six people were killed and three injured in a Russian missile attack on an apartment block in the city of Mykolaiv, about 55 miles west of Kherson city, local officials said. NBC News has not verified the claims.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the residential attack was a "cynical response" to Ukraine's success on the battlefield.