Ex-Putin advisor compares Kherson retreat in Ukraine to the collapse of the Soviet Union, warning of 'really big' consequences

• The collapse of the USSR was likened to Russia's retreat from Kherson.

• There will be a lot of consequences for this huge defeat.

• The pro-Kremlin voices were not happy with the announcement.

The retreat of Russia's forces from Kherson was compared to the fall of the Soviet Union by a former advisor to the president.

The surrender of Kherson is the largest defeat of Russia since the fall of the USSR, according to a pro-Kremlin political analyst.

The political consequences of the defeat will be significant.

The demise of the Soviet Union was once referred to as the greatest catastrophe of the century by Putin.

The pro-Kremlin voices were not happy with the announcement of the withdrawal.

The Institute for the Study of War said that the Russian information space reacted with varying degrees of ire and concern. Russian sources said that this is a big loss for Russian forces because they are losing territory that Russia annexed.

The decision was seen as necessary to preserve the safety of Russia's troops by prominent voices in the Russian military blogosphere space.

—ISW (@TheStudyofWar) November 10, 2022

Ukrainian forces have made gradual progress regaining territory as part of a major counter offensive launched in recent months. They've been trying to take back Kherson.

The first major city to be captured by Russia was Kherson, the only regional capital. It is located in a region that was annexed by Putin in late September.

The retreat from Kherson is a reminder that Russia's forces don't fully occupy or control the Ukrainian regions that Putin now claims as part of Russian territory.

Putin was not present for a televised announcement of the withdrawal on Wednesday featuring his defense minister and Russia's top commander in Ukraine, possibly as an attempt to distance himself from the situation.

Ukrainian officials have expressed skepticism over the Kherson withdrawal, but US Army Gen. Mark Milley said on Thursday that "we're seeing the beginnings of the Russian withdrawal from Kherson."

Business Insider has an article on it.