Withdrawal of Russian forces from Kherson is unlikely to become trap but battle for city is not over - Institute for study of war 

This was reported by the Institute for the study of war (ISW)

Analysts called the order to withdraw Russian troops from the right bank of the Dnipro (in particular from Kherson) to the left a new phase, where the priority is the withdrawal of its troops in the proper order and the delay of Ukrainian forces, and not an attempt to completely stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

"The battle of Kherson is not over," ISW notes."Russian forces have entered a new phase-prioritizing withdrawing their forces across the river in good order and delaying Ukrainian forces, rather than seeking to halt the Ukrainian counteroffensive entirely."

According to analysts, since August, the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson direction probably succeeded, in particular, a coordinated blocking campaign to force Russians to withdraw across the Dnipro river without the need for significant Ukrainian ground offensive actions. Ukrainian troops constantly attacked bridges across the Dnipro river, Russian supply centers and their ammunition depots, combining these strikes with reasonable and successful ground attacks on critical points such as Davydiv Brid. And this strategy paid off.

Thus, the commander of the Russian occupation forces in Ukraine, Surovikin, publicly admitted that Russian troops could not provide their group in Kherson and surrounding areas due to Ukrainian strikes on critical Russian supply lines. Russian sources noted that the withdrawal is a natural consequence of the targeted and systematic Ukrainian strikes that cost the Russian military on the right bank of the main supply arteries, gradually draining their overall strength and capabilities.

"The Russian withdrawal from the west bank of the Dnipro is unlikely to be a trap meant to lure Ukrainian troops into costly combat near Kherson City, as some Ukrainian and Western sources have suggested," ISW argues. They add that withdrawing Russian troops is incompatible with a campaign to deceive and lure Ukrainian forces into a trap. Although it is indisputable that the Russian command will try to slow down the advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, particularly in Kherson, "this fighting will be a means to the end of withdrawing as many Russian units as possible in good order."