Saturday 12 November 2022 09:23 AM Russian troops DESTROY Ukraine dam then flee Kherson dressed as CIVILIANS trends now

Russian troops destroyed a key Ukrainian dam before fleeing Kherson dressed as civilians in the latest humiliation for deranged despot Vladimir Putin.

Incredible footage showed the moment the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River was blown up by retreating Russian soldiers.

CCTV shows how Putin's army blew up the hydroelectric dam before another explosion erupts along the power lines from the dam.

The video will be seen as evidence of deliberate destruction by the Russians as they withdraw from key locations in Kherson.

It is unclear whether soldiers destroyed the bridge as revenge for having to leave the city or whether it was a more tactical move since the dam also has a motorway and railway over the Dnipro River into the Kherson region.

It appears Russia has also destroyed the Antonovsky Bridge, which is the other main crossing point over the Dnipro River into the Kherson Region.

Images showed a large chunk of the bridge collapsed into the water below.

Kherson was one of the first Ukrainian cities captured in the war Moscow waged on its neighbour from February 24.

The retreat, which was ordered amid a Ukrainian counter-offensive, represents a huge blow to president Russian president Vladimir Putin — who has so far remained silent on the development.

As Putin's troops retreated from the region, some have even resorted to dressing up in civilian clothing as they try to escape, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. 

Meanwhile, Ukraine liberated the city of Kherson yesterday after eight months under Russian occupation, with soldiers treated to a hero's welcome by jubilant crowds as they arrived in city centre. 

Flag-waving locals wept, chanted the name of the Ukrainian armed forces and kissed troops as they arrived in the city's main square hours after the bulk of Moscow's forces fled back across the Dnipro River.

Ukraine's artillery had pounded the city and river crossings overnight and into the early hours in the hopes of destroying any last Russians trying to flee. Rumours swirled that thousands of troops might be trapped in the city, but as they day wore on those hopes seemed to be ill-founded.

Fears that Russia could be laying some kind of trap also failed to materialise, perhaps suggesting a disinformation campaign to delay the Ukrainian advance long enough for soldiers to get out. Videos showed Moscow's troops crossing the Dnipro as the sun rose, before they blew up the main bridge crossing to stop anyone following.

British intelligence analysts believe Moscow's exit from Kherson, a strategically key city, likely started as early as October 22, when Russian-installed figures urged civilians to leave.

Ukraine is retaking large swathes of the Kherson region on the western bank of the Dnipro River, with its forces largely in control of city itself.

Russia said its troops finished withdrawing from the western bank at 5am local time on November 11, paving the way for Ukraine to reclaim more territory.

Videos and pictures posted on social media later showed residents celebrating in the streets, with the Ukrainian flag flying over a central Kherson square.

The country's president Volodymyr Zelensky said 'life is returning'. 

Russian forces still control about 70 per cent of the wider Kherson region in the wake of the withdrawal.

In an intelligence update posted on social media, the MoD said Moscow's troops had 'highly likely' destroyed road and rail bridges over the Dnipro River as part of their retreat.

The exit was formally announced on November 9, but the defence experts said it is likely it started as early as October 22.

'There is a realistic possibility that Russian military equipment and forces in civilian attire had been evacuating in conjunction with the 80,000 stated evacuated civilians in recent weeks,' the MoD said.

It added that it Moscow is probably still trying to evacuate forces from other parts of the region across the river to defensible positions on the eastern bank.

The MoD said: 'Kherson was the only regional capital city captured since February by Russian forces so the withdrawal brings significant reputational damage.

'The withdrawal is a public recognition of the difficulties faced by Russian forces on the west bank of the Dnipro River.

'It is likely that Ukraine has retaken large areas of Kherson oblast on the west bank of the Dnipro River, and that its forces are now largely in control of Kherson city itself.'

The dammed river supplies water to the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. 

Pro-Russian Colonel Cassad Telegram channel said: 'So far, there is not enough damage for a large flood, but in the course of subsequent hostilities, it cannot be ruled out that it will be [finished off].'

Meanwhile, satellite pictures released by Maxar Technologies show damage to sections of the northern part of the dam and sluice gates at the hydroelectric power plant.

Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of plotting to breach the dam, with Moscow blaming Ukraine for damage to it caused by shelling earlier this month, despite providing no evidence to back these claims.

Two weeks ago, Kremlin propaganda printed threats to mine the area and unleash a 'grandiose water apocalypse' to stop Ukraine's own counter-offensive. 

This prompted the head of the Ukrainian presidential office Andriy Yermak to accuse Moscow of resorting to new scare tactics after failing with its 'nuclear blackmail'.

Bursting the Soviet-era the dam could cause severe destruction to Kherson city, which Russia declared it had withdrawn from this morning, and put hundreds of thousands of people living downstream at risk of flooding. 

Further images which have emerged show significant damage to several bridges following the hasty withdrawal of Putin's forces from Kherson to the East bank of the Dnipro river. 

'Satellite images this morning... reveal significant new damage to several bridges and the Nova Kakhovka dam in the aftermath of the Russian retreat from Kherson across the Dnipro river,' Maxar said in a statement. 

President Zelensky today declared that Kherson is back in Ukrainian hands following Russia's retreat from the city - the only regional capital Putin's forces had taken since the invasion began.

Jubilant locals wept as they kissed and embraced the first Ukrainian soldiers to arrive in the centre of the Black Sea port, the first major urban hub that fell to Russia. 

'Our people. Ours. Kherson,' Zelensky wrote on Telegram today as footage showed Ukrainian troops gathering with residents of the city to celebrate the landmark victory.

In an address to the Ukrainian people, the President said: 'today is a historic day, we are returning the south of our country, returning Kherson.'

He praised the strength and spirit of the people of Kherson, who he said 'believed in Ukraine' despite the 'threats, repression and abuse of the occupiers'. 

The southern city was liberated today after nine months under Russian occupation in what has been a major blow for the Kremlin.

Ukrainian soldiers were treated to a hero's welcome by jubilant crowds as they arrived in the city centre throughout the day, with celebrations going on into the night.

An emotional video appears to show locals hoisting a Ukrainian flag on a monument in the city as they support one another and sing together. 

Earlier in the day, young men were filmed victoriously cheering as they raised a flag in the city's Freedom Square.

Flag-waving locals wept, chanted the name of the Ukrainian armed forces, hugged and kissed troops as they arrived in the city's main square hours after the bulk of Moscow's forces fled back across the Dnipro River.

Ukraine's artillery had pounded river crossings overnight and into the early hours in the hopes of destroying any last Russians trying to flee.

While Russia said it had withdrawn 30,000 troops across the Dnipro River without losing a single soldier, Ukrainians have described a chaotic retreat and pro-Russian war bloggers have described them coming under heavy fire. 

Serhii Khlan, the deputy head of Kherson's regional council, disputed the claim that retreating forces took all their equipment with them, saying he was told 'a lot' of hardware got left behind. 

Satellite images show the only road route near Kherson across the river, the already damaged Antonivskiy bridge, collapsed, with Russian military bloggers saying it was probably blown up as Russian troops withdrew.

Local reports suggested that Russian troops had been forced to retreat via a makeshift bridge nearby.

A large number of Russian soldiers drowned in the river as they tried to escape and others had changed into civilian clothing, Khlan said. 

Council member Khlan earlier advised Kherson residents not to leave their homes while searches for remaining Russian troops took place.

Ukraine's defence intelligence agency said Kherson was being restored to Ukrainian control and ordered any remaining Russian troops to surrender to Kyiv's forces entering the city. 

Rumours swirled that thousands of troops might still be trapped in the city, but as the day wore on those hopes seemed to be ill-founded. 

Fears that Russia could be laying some kind of trap also failed to materialise, perhaps suggesting a disinformation campaign to delay the Ukrainian advance long enough for soldiers to get out. 

The withdrawal, in the face of an intense Ukrainian counter-offensive, marks Russia's third major retreat of the war.

As the news settles in of the city's recapture, Ukrainians have been celebrating across the embattled country.

Videos out of Kherson appear to show locals partying in the streets tonight as they enjoy their first taste of freedom from the Russian occupiers since March.

Amid the celebrations, Mr Khlan said the humanitarian situation there is dire as the occupiers had destroyed key infrastructure. 'The situation with fuel is difficult and there has been no electricity for a week,' he said. Temperatures hit 3C (37F) yesterday, with freezing weather expected to arrive next week.

Nevertheless, victory parades started to break out after it had become clear that Russia no longer controlled the city.

'Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes,' shouted one man in a video circulating on social media, a slogan first used by the country's military as a greeting during Ukraine's 1917-1921 war of independence.