Russian troops ordered to RETREAT as Ukraine’s tanks reach striking distance of Kherson & Zelensky vows ‘we do not stop’

RUSSIAN troops have been ordered to retreat as Ukraine’s southern tank assault steamrollers their positions – and President Zelensky vowed he “won’t stop”. A Putin stooge confirmed an order “to regroup” as pro-Russian blogs revealed the frontline had collapsed. EPAThe advance of Ukrainian forces has forced Russian troops to retreat[/caption] ReutersPresident Zelensky warned his men ‘won’t stop’ in their push back against Putin[/caption] APPutin’s men are now regrouping as they struggle to fight back[/caption] The lightning advance puts Ukraine‘s defenders in striking distance of Kherson city – the only provincial capital captured since February 24 that is still in Russian control. Thousands of Russian troops face being encircled on the west bank of the Dnipro after the only bridges across the four-mile-wide river were blitzed with US and UK long-range rockets. Moscow’s RIA Novosti state media outlet quoted Kherson official Kirill Stremousov as saying troops were “conducting a regrouping in order to gather their strength and deliver a retaliatory blow.” Russian troops are expected to fall back to the Inhulets river, just a few miles east of the city. read more on ukraine war FIRE POWER Ukrainian snipers using devastating rifle which can fire giant bullets 4 MILES NO KIDDING Putin ally sends teen sons to fight Ukraine as images show them firing guns If they are unable to halt Ukraine’s advance, analysts warned Russian troops would loot dinghies and yachts from the city’s marinas to escape at any cost. The withdrawal of Putin’s goons in the southern Black Sea region was branded a “disaster” by Russian reporter Roman Saponkov. He listed several areas that Ukraine had recently triumphed in, saying they had been “abundantly watered with the blood of our soldiers.” In the last week alone, Russia has lost a staggering 4,000 square kilometres of territory. Most read in The Sun SECRET LOVE CHILD Top BBC star got stripper pregnant then dumped her before she gave birth FROM SOFA TO JUNGLE Gogglebox star signs up to I'm A Celeb as show returns to Australia MOLD-EN RULE I’m a housewife – the reason your washing machine smells moldy & how to fix it FLASH VEGAS Paris Fury shares photo from daughter Venezuela's Vegas-themed 13th birthday HOUSE OF WINDSOR Stunning home Charles could give Wills & Kate - but they might not want it WINE-DERFUL! Lauren Goodger sips wine outside restaurant on dinner trip with daughter Independent Russian media Agentstvo said troops have “almost completely abandoned the occupied territories in the Kharkiv region.” Soldiers have also retreated from the Lyman while rapidly losing ground in the north of the Kherson region.  The main thrust of Ukraine’s incursions has been along the west bank of the Dnipro while a pincer movement attacked from the north. Maps published by Moscow’s defence ministry detailed the significant loss of territory, including the village of Dudcany adjacent to the mammoth river. Putin’s puppet officials earlier admitted they had lost control of the territory and troops are on the run. Dudchany is around 25 miles south of where the front stood just a day earlier, indicating one of the fastest advances of the war. It comes just days after Putin declared the whole of the Kherson region part of Russia along with three other regions. On Wednesday, a Russian social media channel claimed the village of Snihurivka had been freed by Ukraine’s armed forces. President Zelensky hailed it a “fast and powerful advance in the south”. He said: “Dozens of settlements have already been liberated from the Russian sham referendum this week alone. “In particular, according to the military reports from the Kherson region: the settlements of Lyubymivka, Khreshchenivka, Zolota Balka, Bilyaivka, Ukrainka, Velyka and Mala Oleksandrivka, and Davydiv Brid were liberated from the occupier and stabilized.  “And this is far from a complete list.” He added: “Our warriors do not stop. And it’s only a matter of time before we oust the occupier from all our land.” The President met with his top military advisors today to discuss the “further liberation of Ukrainian territories.” Read More on The Sun BIRTHDAY TEARS No one turned up to my boy's birthday - we had to change pizza order to one SHOWSTOPPER Paris Fury shows off glam mum crew at Venezuela’s Vegas-themed birthday bash Ukraine’s military earlier said enemy troops were “demoralised” after losing their strongholds. Soldiers were said to be destroying ammunition depots and bridges in their path “in order to slow down the offensive of our troops.” EPARussian soldiers are running for their lives after Ukraine secured the vantage point[/caption] APPutin had previously declared the whole of the Kherson region as a part of Russia[/caption]