Russia is retreating from the key Ukrainian city of Kherson, with commanders already abandoning troops following “spectacular changes in the territorial control”, western officials have revealed.
The development took place as Russian forces in Ukraine run “critically short” of artillery ammunition, forcing them to rely on North Korean imports as well as killer drones from Iran.
Newly mobilised Russian troops are also appearing in operational areas of Ukraine without weapons and with their morale already deeply diminished, a media briefing was told.
The loss of Kherson would prove humiliating for President Vladimir Putin, as it is the only major city that Russia managed to capture since its February 24 invasion
Its loss now appears imminent, with troops left without senior commanders. The Russian flag has also been removed from the city’s administrative building.
“We are confirming the prospects of Russian military withdrawal from the Kherson bridgehead and planning is almost certainly well advanced,” a western official said.
“Most echelons of command have now withdrawn across the river, leaving behind demoralised and leaderless men to the face Ukrainian assaults. A substantial portion of his men are recently mobilised reservists and they are often woefully equipped and unprepared.”
The retreat will be “presented as an evacuation” but the loss could lead to an “uptick in pointed domestic criticism of Russia's national leadership”.
The planned withdrawal was to bring Russian forces back across the 1,000-metre-wide Dnipro River to form strong defensive lines on its eastern bank.
But questioned by The National, an official admitted they “cannot discount” the possibility of some of the estimated 20,000 Russian soldiers in Kherson being left behind and forced to surrender.
“The commanders are already across the river, which is terrible leadership in any environment,” he said.
“Could Russian forces be trapped? It depends on the decision-making processes and on what timescale they activate things but conducting a retreat brings risk with it.”
The judgment of Moscow’s commanders was that Kherson “isn't worth fighting for” and the natural barrier defence of the Dnipro “is extremely valuable to them”, the official said.
There was also a possibility that Russian special forces would “continue to operate on the other side of the bank”, potentially carrying out reconnaissance and sabotage.
However, Ukrainian progress towards the city was at times “very slow going” but with “some instances of great success”.
Taking Kherson will also give Kyiv a key port city on the Black Sea as well as act as a significant blow to Mr Putin’s standing.
However, officials said it was unlikely there would be a swift advance towards annexed Crimea 90 kilometres away, as Russia has robustly defended the ground.
Russian military doctrine is heavily reliant on artillery bombardments to flatten the enemy before advancing but stockpiles are so depleted, they are relying on foreign supplies.
“The most glaring failure in Russia's inventory is an increasingly critical shortage of artillery ammunition,” the official said. “In the Russian way of war, artillery enables everything else, without guns or rocket launchers being fired everything grinds to a halt.”
Another official confirmed US intelligence reports that North Korea had supplied a “significant number of artillery shells to Russia”.
“The fact that Russia has gone to the steps of seeking to source ‘dumb’ munitions from North Korea demonstrates that there are supply problems,” another official said.
It now appears that Moscow’s plan is to pull back its depleted invasion force to stronger defensive lines where they will be more easily supplied during the winter freeze.
This will also buy Russia time to replenish its war stocks when the operational tempo slows until spring. But Ukraine may still have the resources to conduct extensive winter warfare.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
Specs
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Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
SERIES INFO
Schedule:
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
1st ODI, Wed Apr 10
2nd ODI, Fri Apr 12
3rd ODI, Sun Apr 14
4th ODI, Sun Apr 16
UAE squad
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Zimbabwe squad
Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)
Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Bologna (10.45om)
Playing September 30
Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
Udinese v Spezia (8pm)
Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Uefa Champions League last 16 draw
Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur
Basel v Manchester City
Sevilla v Manchester United
Porto v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Rajasthan Royals 153-5 (17.5 ov)
Delhi Daredevils 60-4 (6 ov)
Rajasthan won by 10 runs (D/L method)
