Russia facing huge losses in Kherson with 20000 troops surrounded and being pounded by Ukrainian artillery

Russia is facing 'huge losses' in Kherson with up to 20,000 of Vladimir Putin's men now surrounded and being pounded by Ukrainian artillery while trying to hold off Kyiv's rapidly advancing troops, an expert has warned.

Commanders are today grappling with the 'enormously difficult' task of getting tens of thousands of men, tanks, and armoured vehicles back across the Dnipro River - over a kilometre wide at some points - using only small boats and pontoon bridges after Ukraine blew the main crossings to smithereens using HIMARS.

Justin Crump, CEO of defence analysts Sibylline, said such a task would be 'hugely challenging' for even the best militaries - let alone the Russian army in its current state. He said Ukrainian troops are trying to cut off Russia's retreat by advancing along the Dnipro River which is already causing 'panic' among Moscow's men.

Videos that emerged overnight showed Ukrainian rocket artillery unleashing a devastating barrage on Russian forces now trapped in Kherson, having advanced rapidly through the surrounding countryside to hem the city in from three sides. Others showed the night sky lighting up with explosions.

Mr Crump told the BBC: 'There is an opportunity here for the Ukrainians to inflict a really damaging blow on Russia.

'It wouldn't knock [Russia] out of the war but it would be a huge setback to take those kind of losses. The withdrawal is something Russia is doing to try and avoid further losses... but that is what they're facing.

'It's not that easy to withdraw these troops from Kherson in one day or two days. As a minimum, (it will take) one week,' Reznikov said.

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