WAR IN UKRAINE: November 10, 2022
Ukrainian soldiers reloading weapons in Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, before returning to the front line.PHOTO: BULENT KILIC/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 260
The Biden administration won’t give Ukraine advanced drones despite pleas from Kyiv and a bipartisan group of members of Congress, a reflection of the limit of the kinds of weaponry Washington is willing to provide for Ukraine’s defense, reports the Wall Street Journal. The decision deprives Ukraine of the kind of advanced weaponry Kyiv has been requesting for months. The Pentagon declined the request based on concerns that providing the Gray Eagle MQ-1C drones could escalate the conflict and signal to Moscow that the U.S. was providing weapons that could target positions inside Russia, U.S. officials and other people familiar with the decision said
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 - BBC
Zelensky: Liberation of Kherson will be result of Ukraine’s efforts, not Russia’s gifts. In a video address on Nov. 9, President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on Russia's announcement that it is withdrawing from Kherson. "No one withdraws from anywhere unless they encounter (their opponent's) strength," Zelensky said. "The enemy doesn't give us gifts or gestures of goodwill. We get all of this by fighting for it” - Kyiv Independent
ISW: Battle of Kherson not over as Russian forces enter new phase. Russian forces are withdrawing their forces across the Dnipro River in order to delay Ukrainian forces, rather than attempting to halt Ukraine's counteroffensive entirely, the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest update. The withdrawal will take time, however, and it remains to be seen if Russia can conduct it in "relatively good order under Ukrainian pressure," the ISW said.
Israeli military analyst: 70% of Russia's Black Sea Fleet is incapacitated. "This does not mean that they are drowned, just incapacitated, meaning they can't carry out any offensive actions," Yigal Levin, a military expert and former officer of the Israel Defense Forces, told Radio NV.
Required reading…
Battle of Kherson: Russian retreat confirms Putin is losing the war
Russia’s November 9 announcement of a general withdrawal from Kherson is further confirmation that Vladimir Putin is losing the war. The Battle of Kherson itself is still far from over, of course. Ahead are days and possibly weeks of further fighting as tens of thousands of Russian troops attempt to withdraw in good order from strongly entrenched defensive positions. It is entirely possible that this could turn into a rout as isolated pockets of Russian soldiers attempt to save themselves.
Ukrainian officials reacted to news of Russia’s decision to withdraw with an abundance of caution, reflecting concerns in Kyiv that the Kremlin may be seeking to lure Ukrainian troops into a well-prepared trap. Nevertheless, it is already apparent that the Battle of Kherson will end in a landmark Ukrainian victory that will have major ramifications for the further conduct of the war.
This latest Russian retreat is no surprise.
Read the full Atlantic Council analysis by former Ukrainian defense minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk here