Ukrainian troops approach outskirts of Kherson after taking key town

Ukrainian forces were closing in on the outskirts of Kherson city as Russia said on Thursday it had begun the retreat from the southern city that it announced the previous day.

Late on Thursday there were reports of incoming shelling explosions around the Nova Kakhovka, a 30-metre hydroelectric facility which Kyiv has repeatedly warned could be targeted by the Russians.

Snihurivka, situated about 20 miles north of Kherson, was an important logistics hub for Russian forces on the west bank of the Dnipro and acted as an anchor for the Russian defensive lines there.

Despite Russia announcing its withdrawal from the area, Kyiv has said it is wary of rushing in and warned it may be a trap by the Kremlin.

On Thursday, people in Kherson reported still seeing Russian forces in the city, although it was not clear how many remained.

Video posted by Russian soldiers retreating across the Dnipro appeared to confirm that at least some troops had already withdrawn. One video posted on Russian Telegram channels appeared to show a night-time convoy of Russian vehicles described as heading for a river crossing.

In another video, two soldiers speak to camera during their own crossing on a pontoon ferry next to the damaged Antonivsky Bridge. It was not clear on what day it was filmed.