Russia abandons Kherson city and digs in farther east for a pivotal winter battle

Russia’s latest retreat is the first major decision of Ukraine forces commander Sergey Surovikin, who is choosing his ground for his first major battle

Russia announced it was abandoning the western reaches of Kherson region in southern Ukraine as indefensible in the 37th week of the war, potentially handing Ukraine another major victory after humiliating retreats from Kiyv and Chernihiv and a rout in Kharkiv region in the north.

In a staged propaganda video released by the Russian defence ministry, the…