Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says retreat will not affect Kherson region's status as annexed 'Russian subject'

Russian President Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia’s withdrawal from the right bank of the Dnipro River will have no effect on the Kherson region’s status as an annexed “Russian subject.”

“This is a subject of the Russian Federation; that status has been defined and enshrined by law. There are not and cannot be any changes,” Peskov said, according to Russian state media.

He also said that the Kremlin does not consider Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson to be “humiliating” and doesn’t regret holding a ceremony to mark the annexation of the partially occupied Ukrainian territories.