How to break the morale of revanchist imperialism. Retaking Kherson is just the first step. Major come uppance as to apologists for Russian invasion
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Russia says it has started to exit the city - its top gain in the invasion - but the process could take weeks.
Wednesday's announcement ?was viewed as a major setback for Moscow's war effort, though Ukrainian officials were sceptical - warning that the manoeuvre could be a trap.
There was no immediate evidence of any mass-scale Russian withdrawal from Kherson.
Ukraine's commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhny said on Thursday that he could not confirm or deny the pull-out - but said his own forces had made important advances.
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This reminds me of a conversation I had 5 years ago with a Putin apologist from the Northern Part of New York state whom claimed with a straight face that " Putin recognizes ability and rewards competence"
The person whom made this utterance is now dead. Died 4 years ago and my conversation with him was one year before he died, but it is particularly relevant as to the on coming fiasco in Kherson.
What Putin rewards is connivance in stealing from others, and being sneaky about the acquisition of ill gotten gains.
It is a thieves mind set. Big surprise NOT, but it also explains why Kherson was and is a battle field today
The word I have heard is that a local Ukraine citizen in the administration of Kherson was turned by the Russians and opened up the gates of the city to occupation at the onset of this horrible war.
Now events are turning full circle. Revanchist imperialism is at its heart rationalization for stealing from the helpless.
Cue into the monstrous lifting of wealth from Jerusalem after the sack of city, and destruction of the entire kingdom of Judea in the era of about 130 AD as the emperor Hadrian implemented a snatch and grab plundering expedition to banish the spectre of revolt in Judea once and for all
The spoils of that sack from Jerusalem were the crown Jewels of the Roman empire clear up to the Vandal sack of Rome 455 AD,
In the end ending the Kherson occupation means the twilight of revanchist imperialism.
One reason why a victory is so important is to imprint the lesson that revanchist imperialism does not pay, as to end the spectra of it being normalized in 21st century Geo politics,.
Far from being competent, Putin welcomes incompetent stealing from others. It is time to show him and the world that this does not pay and will lead to ruin
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Ukraine war: Kyiv claims major gains as Russia exits Kherson
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By James FitzGerald
BBC News
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The Ukrainian army says it has made major gains over the last day around Kherson, after Russia said it was withdrawing from the southern city.
Ukrainian troops say they have taken back the key town of Snihurivka, 50km (30 miles) to the north of Kherson.
Kyiv has also claimed big pushes on two fronts near Kherson, including advances of 7km in some places.
Russia says it has started to exit the city - its top gain in the invasion - but the process could take weeks.
Wednesday's announcement ?was viewed as a major setback for Moscow's war effort, though Ukrainian officials were sceptical - warning that the manoeuvre could be a trap.
There was no immediate evidence of any mass-scale Russian withdrawal from Kherson.
Ukraine's commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhny said on Thursday that he could not confirm or deny the pull-out - but said his own forces had made important advances.
Gen Zaluzhny said his soldiers had driven forward on two fronts on the western bank of the Dnipro river - an area of land which encompasses Kherson - taking control of 12 settlements.
The 7km gains were made "during the past day", he said, as troops advanced along a northern-eastern axis and a separate western axis.
Video footage showed soldiers being greeted by locals in a square, apparently after entering the town of Snihurivka.
Snihurivka sits at a major road junction and is a rail hub for Mykolaiv region, which borders Kherson to the north and west.
The regional administration in Mykolaiv posted on the Telegram messaging app touting "lots of good news today".
It fuelled speculation on Thursday night that Ukrainian troops had reached the outskirts of Kherson itself, after cryptically posting a single letter - "ch" in Ukrainian.
This was taken as a possible clue that troops had reached the suburban village of Chornobayivka.
It was not possible for the BBC to independently verify the details of the latest territorial gains and losses - but the reports come after weeks of steady advances from the Ukrainian military.
Kherson was the first - and only - regional capital to fall into Russian hands after it invaded Ukraine on 24 February.
From late September, it was viewed by the Kremlin as Russian territory - following so-called "referendums" in occupied areas of Ukraine that were widely discredited by the international community.
On Wednesday, Moscow said it was no longer possible to supply the city, saying it would step back from the western bank of the Dnipro - a river which bisects Ukraine.
Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not take part in the televised announcement.
Ukraine's Gen Zaluzhny said Russia was left with no option but to flee, after its supply lines were destroyed and its command systems disrupted.
Later on Thursday, Ukraine's defence minister said it would take Russia at least a week to withdraw and that it was not easy to predict the actions of his enemy.
Jens Stoltenberg, the chief of the Nato military alliance of Western nations, said it was clear Russia was under "heavy pressure" but that it was important to see "how the situation on the ground develops".
The UK defence secretary said Russia appeared to be setting up a defensive line on the other side of the Dnipro river using concrete installations.
Commenting on the withdrawal, Ben Wallace said that "the world shouldn't be grateful for Russia handing back stolen property".
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said it was too early to celebrate - accusing his enemy of wanting to turn Kherson into a "city of death" by leaving mines and plotting to shell it from afar.
That could add to the casualty count of a war which has already killed or injured 100,000 soldiers on each side and 40,000 civilians, according to the?latest estimate from a senior US general .
Separately, the US has announced another $400m (￡341m) military aid package for Ukraine - including Avenger air defence systems and Hawk missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said he had also discussed defence support from the UK with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.