Kyiv makes major gains as Russia exits Kherson

Major gains have been made by the Ukrainian army, according to officials, after Russia announced it would be withdrawing its troops from the key city. 

Troops say they have taken back the town of Snihurivka, around 30 miles north of Kherson. 

Kyiv also claims they have made big pushes on two fronts near Kherson. 

Russia has started to exit the city, which had been its biggest win of the invasion, but the process could take weeks. 

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Kherson was one of the earliest gains they made, so their announcement on Wednesday was viewed as a major setback for Moscow’s war effort. 

There is no immediate evidence of any mass-scale Russian withdrawal from the city. 

Ukraine’s Valeriy Zaluzhny said he couldn’t confirm or deny that Russia has withdrawn, but says his Ukrainian forces had made important advances. 

Gen Zaluzhny said his soldiers had driven forward on two fronts on the western bank of the Dnipro river – an area of land which encompasses Kherson – taking control of 12 settlements.