November 16, 2022

Russia’s Withdrawal from Kherson, with Mike Kofman and Mick Ryan

Last week, Kiev reached an important milestone when Russian troops withdrew from the city of Kherson. This retreat has both strategic and symbolic significance, given that Kherson was the only regional capital that Moscow had managed to take since beginning its invasion in February. It also further adds to Ukraine’s momentum over the past few months, during which Kiev has liberated nearly half of the territory originally occupied by Russia. Nevertheless, serious questions remain about the months ahead.Where can Ukraine go from here? How might the U.S. and Europe support Ukraine to end the war sooner rather than later? What are the new risks Kiev may face in the coming months? Michael Kofman and Mick Ryan join Andrea Kendall-Taylor to discuss the implications of the Russian withdrawal from Kherson, and what it means for Ukraine going forward.

Michael Kofman is the Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA as well as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

Mick Ryan is an Adjunct Fellow with the Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is also a retired major general in the Australian army as well as the author of War Transformed: The Future of 21st Century Great Power Competition and Conflict.

  • Commentary
    • Foreign Affairs
    • December 18, 2024
    Putin’s Point of No Return

    The United States and Europe must invest in resisting Russia now or pay a far greater cost later....

    By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Michael Kofman

  • Podcast
    • December 13, 2024
    What Can Europe do in Syria?

    After 54 years of brutal rule in Syria, the al-Assad family’s reign came to an end last week. Following 13 years of devastating civil war, which saw over a million refugees fl...

    By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend

  • Podcast
    • November 22, 2024
    Trump and the War in Ukraine with Michael Kofman and Robert Lee

    More than 1000 days into the War in Ukraine, questions about continued support for the Ukrainian effort and the prospect of a negotiated settlement in the months to come have ...

    By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend, Rob Lee & Mike Kofman

  • Podcast
    • November 13, 2024
    The Future of Russia and China in Central Asia

    Despite the many proclamations that Russian and Chinese interests would collide in Central Asia, Moscow and Beijing continue to work together in service of their shared object...

    By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia