Western analysts: Russia is capable of winning even after retreating from Kherson
From a military point of view, the decision to withdraw Russian units to the left bank of the Kherson region was justified.
A number of Western experts interviewed by Reuters come to this conclusion, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Thus, Polish military analyst Konrad Muzyka, who recently returned from Ukraine, calls the retreat from Kherson “an obvious victory for Ukraine,” but at the same time admits that it “was the only correct military decision for Russia, because its forces on the western bank of the Dnieper were too unprotected, overextended and under-supplied.”
“If the Russians leave now, they will not only have more forces to prepare the defense of the eastern bank of the river, but also some forces to actually move and deploy in other areas,” Muzyka said.
In turn, Ben Barry, a senior fellow on ground operations at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, called the retreat an element of “realism” in Russia’s strategy after the appointment of SVO commander Sergei Surovikin.
"This is definitely a turning point, but it doesn't mean Russia lost or Ukraine won," Barry said.
He believes Moscow can still take the initiative if it can regroup for a new offensive or launch decisive counterattacks.
Former British Ambassador to Moscow Anthony Brenton shares a similar opinion regarding the retreat.
“This is a rational act, since Kherson could no longer be defended. The Russians are still banking on being united militarily by the end of winter, the diplomat says.
In his opinion, Moscow is most concerned about the retention of Crimea and the broken land corridor connecting the peninsula with Russia.
Brenton believes that "the Russians understand that they eventually need to make a deal, even if such a prospect has seemed distant for now."
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