On Wednesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu gave orders for his soldiers to leave the captured Ukrainian city of Kherson and establish defensive positions on the other bank of the Dnipro River.

The declaration signaled one of Russia’s biggest withdrawals and perhaps a turning point in the war, which is now approaching the end of its ninth month.

Shoigu was informed on television by General Sergei Surovikin, who was in charge of the war’s overall strategy, that Kherson City could no longer be supplied.

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“Having comprehensively assessed the current situation, it is proposed to take up defence along the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River,” said 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 announcement came after weeks of Ukrainian advances on the city and a rush by Russia to move over 100,000 of its citizens to the other side of the river.

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Kherson, the capital of the same-named area, is one of four Ukrainian regions that President Vladimir Putin declared he was annexing “forever” to Russia in September. The Kremlin claimed that these regions are now protected by Moscow’s nuclear umbrella.

Shoigu told 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.”

Influential war bloggers in Russia had anticipated the announcement, which they called a painful 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. “Yes, this is a black page in the history of the Russian army. Of the Russian state. A tragic page.”

The death of Kirill Stremousov, Moscow’s second-ranking official there, in a car accident on Wednesday added to the sense of Russian chaos in Kherson.

One of the most well-known representatives of Russian occupation was Stremousov. He was seen as a renegade and a collaborator in Ukraine.

Just hours before he passed away, Stremousov made a video statement in which he criticized what he called Ukrainian “Nazis” and declared that Russian forces were in “complete control” of the southern situation.

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