New Delhi: Russia's crackdown on freedom of speech especially with criticism pertaining to the Ukraine invasion has made headlines ever since Moscow's offensive against Kyiv began in February this year.
In the latest instance, a viral video shows a Russian TV anchor, Andrei Norkin, openly expressing hesitance to talk about the Russian army's latest retreat saying that if he backs the decision to withdraw from Kherson, he will go to jail for questioning Russia's territorial integrity and of he opposes it, he can still go to jail for discrediting the armed forces as per the Russian Law.
This admission on camera is being viewed as an important expression of dissent as Moscow has been in controlling the national narrative about its war with Ukraine.
Moscow on Wednesday said that the Russian troops would withdraw from the west bank of the Dnipro River, an area that includes Kherson city. The retreat is seen as one of the biggest military setbacks for Russia since the invasion.
Kherson is one of four Ukrainian regions that Russia attempted to annex going against international law. The retreat is being viewed with skepticism by officials in Kyiv as they doubt Kremlin would give up a territory filled with people that Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed would be Russian citizens “forever.”
According to CNN's report, Ukrainian officials suspect that the Russian military will embrace scorched earth tactics and leave behind a trail of devastation in the wake of their withdrawal.
Adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, alleged on Thursday that Russia “wants to turn Kherson into a ‘city of death.’”.
The Russian military “mines everything they can: apartments, sewers. Artillery on the left [eastern] bank plans to turn the city into ruins. This is what ‘Russian world’ looks like: came, robbed, celebrated, killed ‘witnesses,’ left ruins and left,” Podolyak tweeted.
As per the CNN report, Ukraine military spokesman Vladyslav Nazarov stated that Russian forces were continuing to shell areas recaptured by Ukraine and attempted to strike points of humanitarian aid distribution.
However, the report mentioned that signs of the retreat have also emerged as Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that Washington had seen the “beginnings” of a Russian withdrawal in Kherson.
More On It: Ukraine Fears Russia Could Turn Kherson Into 'City Of Death' As Moscow Retreats