Russian state media on Monday published and swiftly retracted reports of a withdrawal of forces from positions on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River.
The reports quoted Russia’s defence ministry announcing troops were being transferred “to more favourable positions” on the Russian-occupied left – or eastern – side.
The stories were quickly retracted.
The Russian defence ministry blamed the “false report” on Ukraine.
Ukraine claimed the announcement was a Russian disinformation operation being carried out against it.
Monday’s hasty reversal took place almost exactly a year after Russian forces withdrew their troops from the right bank, including from the city of Kherson. The river largely continues to separate Ukrainian and Russian forces.
In the now-retracted reports, state news agencies, Tass and RIA-Novosti, said Russia had repositioned troops to positions east of the Dnipro river, in order to “free up some of its forces, which will be used for offensive operations in other areas”.
They reflected similar language to those used in previous announcements of Russian retreats.
The Kremlin declined to comment on the incident, saying it was a matter for the military.
Ukrainian forces have escalated raids targeting Russian forces across the Dnipro in recent weeks – a key aim of its counter-offensive, which aims to slice through Russian occupied territory, severing a land corridor to the Crimean peninsula which Moscow annexed illegally in 2014. —BBC
