Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukrainians to “be restrained” and cautious following the Russian order to withdraw troops from the key southern city of Kherson.
In his nightly address, the Ukrainian president warned that the “enemy does not bring us gifts” and suggested that Moscow’s retreat from Kherson could be a ruse to lure Ukrainian forces to advance into a battle in the strategically important city.
On Wednesday, Russia’s top commander in Ukraine said troops had been ordered to withdraw from Kherson as it was no longer possible to maintain supplies to the city.
Mr Zelenskyy said: “There is a lot of joy in the media space today, and it is clear why. But our emotions must be restrained – always during war.
“But you need to understand: no one just gets away if they don’t feel the strength. The enemy does not bring us gifts, does not make ‘gestures of goodwill’. We fight our way up.”
The regional capital was seized by Russia early in the war and if…
