Occupying authorities in Zaporizhzhia say Russian forces ‘tactically’ withdrew from village of Robotyne

Source: Meduza

The Russian-appointed head of the occupying administration of the Zaporizhzhia region, Yevgeny Balitsky, said in a television interview that the retreat of Russian troops from the village of Robotyne was a tactical move.

“The Russian army withdrew, tactically withdrew, from this settlement because holding on to a bare surface, when there’s no possibility to completely dig in, […] doesn’t really seem like a viable option. That’s why the Russian army withdrew to the hills,” RBK cites Balitsky as saying.

He also stated that Robotyne is a “population settlement that only exists on a map.” According to Balitsky, the Russian troops have taken up the dominant heights near Robotyne, with the Ukrainian forces positioned below, which suits the Russian army.