General of the Army Surovikin is the new commander of all Russian forces in Ukraine, replacing Colonel General Gennady Zhidko whose career is likely ruined over his handling of the Ukraine invasion. Surovikin was the commander of the Army Group South during the invasion and was previously the chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Hs return to a army group position is a few rungs down the ladder in terms of command responsibility.
Saving Face for Putin
Surovikin being tapped to make this video about withdrawing a decimated and most defeated army to the relative safety of the West bank of the Dnipro river is a face-saving measure for Putin who can’t make such an announcement himself without serious political ramifications. Done this way, it puts any blame on the decision on the army itself, and since Surovikin is new in the position it even shields him from scrutiny and blame by the Russian populace.
This is all being done for the sake of public opinion inside Russia, not for the West. This televised meeting is the way Russia admitting to its own people that things are not going well without directly saying so. Kherson was the only regional capital that Russia managed to occupy in the war, not being able to hold it is a severe blow to Russian prestige, honor and the reputation of its military.
Reoccupying Kherson
Ukrainian troops will probably reenter Kherson with a great degree of caution at first for several reasons. First, the Russians have had time to place explosives in various locations on timers than may go off days, weeks or even months after they have left. Ukrainian explosive ordnance teams will have to comb the city block by block searching for these delayed action charges.
There are also reports that the city is mostly without water, power, electricity or phone service, as Russian troops cut power lines, busted water mains, and even uprooted fiber optic cables for the phones. Ukraine will have to restore utilities before they can allow civilians to return if at all.
If Ukraine enters the city with troops in force they are likely to get shelled by Russian forces on the other side of the Dnipro river. Russia has had plenty of time to zero in every building and intersection for their rockets and artillery.
Finally, Russia will have left behind both FSB and military intelligence officers(GRU) in Kherson to conduct intelligence and sabotage operations inside the city disguised as civilians.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has issued the following warning to Russian troops wearing civilian clothes in Kherson;
“Russian Soldiers!
As expected, after the retreat of the main group of the Russian army from the Ukrainian Kherson, your command left you to the mercy of fate. Your commanders urged you to change into civilian clothes to try and escape from Kherson on your own. Obviously, you won’t be able to.
Kherson remains under the control of Ukraine, units of the armed forces of Ukraine enter the city. The retreat routes of the Russian occupiers are under the fire control of the Ukrainian army. Any attempt to resist the armed forces of Ukraine will be stopped. Every Russian soldier who resists will be destroyed.
You have only this chance to avoid death.
-Surrender immediately.”
In the video of General Surovikin above Defence Minister Shoigu tell him to do what is necessary because the lives and health of Russian soldiers is always “a priority.”
Russian commanders telling their soldiers to dress in civilian clothes and attempt to escape Kherson is hardly looking out for their “health and safety.” Under the Geneva Accords, a soldier captured while disguised as a civilian is not entitled to the protections afforded to a prisoner of war. In fact, you can be executed for it.
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