Russia-Ukraine war: Russia says troops leaving strategic Kherson, Ukraine doubts full pullout

Russian artillery hit more than 30 settlements in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, and in Zaporizhzhia region the Russian-installed authorities were forcing residents to accept Russian passports after seizing their Ukrainian documents, a Ukrainian military statement said.

One of Russia's most prominent officials in Ukraine was killed in a car crash, a further blow to Moscow in the southern Kherson region amid an impending withdrawal of Russian forces.

The main bridge on a road out of Kherson was blown up. Reuters was able to verify the location of online images that showed the span of the Darivka bridge collapsed into the water of a tributary of the Dnipro River, though not how the bridge had been destroyed or by whom.

Russian General Sergei Surovikin, in overall command of the war, reported to Shoigu that it was no longer possible to keep Kherson city supplied and that his forces should move to the left, or eastern, bank of the Dnipro River.

America's top general estimated that Russia's military had seen more than 100,000 of its soldierskilled or wounded in Ukraine, and added Kyiv's armed forces "probably" suffered a similar level of casualties in the war.

Russia pulls troops back from key city

The Russia-Ukraine conflict which started eight months ago has jolted Europe. The European Union and its Member States have shown solidarity with people fleeing the war.

Ukraine's Economy Minister Yulia Syvrydenko said Russia’s destruction of civilian infrastructure would widen the expected contraction of gross domestic production to 39% from an earlier forecast that envisaged a 35% drop.

Biden said he hopes Democrats and Republicans can continue the bipartisan approach of confronting Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

America's top general estimated on Wednesday that Russia's military had suffered more than 100,000 of its soldiers killed or wounded in Ukraine, and added Kyiv's armed forces "probably" suffered a similar level of casualties. About 40,000 Ukrainian civilians were also probably killed, he said.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday announced Russian forces would retreat from the west bank of the Dnipro River near Kherson in what could be a turning point in the war.

Moscow ordered troops to withdraw from near the strategic southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in a major setback as a top US general estimated Russia has suffered more than 100,000 killed or wounded since invading its neighbour in February.