Putin prepares for "goodwill gesture" in Kherson - Russian political scientist 

Andrey Piontkovsky, political scientist said this live on air of United news TV marathon.

"The most important task is being solved in Russia. There, of course, they understand that Russian Federation will suffer a strategic defeat. Now Putin is worried about the imminent surrender of Kherson. They understand that from a military point of view the surrender of Kherson is inevitable, but from a political point of view - it is impossible.  Because after the last series of boastings and appointment of Surovikin, the defeat near Kherson will cause a shock for deep-seated people and for the "bunker". Therefore, it is necessary to somehow combine the incompatible", he said.

According to Piontkovsky, Moscow is about to "protect Kherson".

"It seems to me that a plan is brewing in Moscow. I think they will defend Kherson. They are pumping mobs there who, according to their plan, should participate in street battles. But it is unlikely that the Ukrainian army will repeat the mistake of the German Wehrmacht and get involved in street battles as in Stalingrad. Ukrainian Armed Forces will continue to destroy them with Himars strikes, he emphasized.

Piontkovsky is convinced that Kremlin's plans in the future are to push such an event as the surrender of Kherson out of the information space.

"It seems to me that plans in the future are to push such an event as the surrender of Kherson out of the information space. To absorb it with something larger: "terrible crime of Ukrainian military, which blows up the Kakhovska HPP" or a bomb, or both at the same time. Then you can follow "goodwill gesture*" to declare the defeat near Kherson "saving the lives of civilians and Russian soldiers", he said.

Russians set up defensive positions on the left bank of Dnipro river in Kherson region, and also evacuate staff of banks, occupation administration, operational services and medics.

*On June 30, the Ukrainian military freed Zmiiny Island from the invaders. Russian Ministry of Defence called a withdrawal of troops a “goodwill gesture”. Ukrainians turned the phrase into a meme. Any failure of the Russians is often marked and ridiculed as a “goodwill gesture”.