However, Kherson residents and Ukrainian officials have questioned this, writes The New York Times.
The Russian military no longer has full control over the temporarily occupied Kherson, a senior Pentagon spokesman said. This was reported by The New York Times.
According to the official, Ukrainian defenders are now fighting hard in the city, pushing back the Russian occupiers.
The publication noted that these words contradict the statement made on Friday by the Chief of the Main Operations Department of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Major General Sergei Rudsky, who said about Russia's “complete control” over the Kherson region.
They also wrote that the Pentagon's opinion was questioned by Kherson residents and Ukrainian officials, who said that the city remained under Russian control, but Ukrainians were fighting in the Kherson region.
The US Department of Defense added that any success of Ukraine in the return of Kherson would be a huge blow to Putin's military efforts. In particular, it will complicate gaining control over the Ukrainian Black Sea coast and the port of Odessa, as well as endanger Russian troops fighting in neighboring Nikolaev.
