Russia’s Kherson loss is good news—but the war will go on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 9, 2022
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Russian forces were reportedly ordered to withdraw from the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine. Defense Priorities Director of Grand Strategy Rajan Menon issued the following statement in response:

“It was always uncertain whether the Russian army would be able to hold on to the part of Kherson province that’s located on the right, or west, bank of the Dnipro river. Departing would have meant giving up Kherson city, the capital and a river port—and the first major city Russia took after the February 24 invasion. No matter how one slices it, the decision to withdraw is a political blow to Putin, who had resisted the move.

“This is one significant event in what will be a long war. There is no evidence that either party believes it has lost or will lose. For the West, especially the U.S., it means an open-ended commitment to Ukraine, just as economic storm clouds are gathering over Europe and the UK. Europe can’t match the U.S. in providing economic support, but given its GDP there’s no reason not to have a division of labor—the U.S. handles military support and Europe provides the bulk of the economic support, which it is certainly not doing now. This is an important matter because Russia’s relentless attacks on Ukraine’s economic infrastructure will increase Kyiv’s need for economic support. Europe must do its part in a crisis in which it has a much bigger stake.”

Author

Rajan
Menon

Former Non-Resident Senior Fellow