Putin ‘in jeopardy’ in Russia as reputation in tatters after Kherson

Russian troops have been forced to withdraw from the key southern city of Kherson after the occupied region came under threat from an advancing Ukrainian counter-offensive. Kremlin military leaders announced plans for Russian soldiers to evacuate the city on Wednesday, after sabotage to supply lines had made it increasingly difficult to equip troops in Kherson. As Russian forces retreat, Vladimir Putin’s long-standing reputation as a ‘winner’ has been compromised, placing his power over Moscow in ‘jeopardy’.Former national security adviser Sir Mark Lyall-Grant warned the withdrawal from Kherson could spark doubt within Russia over President Putin’s leadership.He told Sky News: ‘Within Russia, the vast majority of the Russian people are only getting one version of the truth, and that is one put out by the Kremlin.’But, the oligarchs around President Putin will have seen the truth and I think Putin’s reputation as being a hard man and being a winner has certainly taken a huge knock.’He added: ‘That puts [Vladimir Putin’s] position of power in some jeopardy in Moscow.’ President Putin’s stronghold over the Kremlin has come under threat (Image: GETTY) Sir Mark Lyall-Grant warned Putin’s reputation within Russia had been damaged (Image: Sky News )Kherson was the only regional capital Russian forces had been able to capture since the invasion of Ukraine began back in February.It became one of four occupied regions, alongside Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, which President Putin pledged to formally annex under the Russian Federation following a series of sham referendums organised by Kremlin-installed officials.Notably, Putin dodged the opportunity to announce the planned withdrawal from Kherson. Instead, Russia’s commander in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin reported the decision during a state-controlled media broadcast.General Surovikin asserted the shift in military strategy came after Russian supply routes into Kherson became compromised, meaning the ‘most sensible option’ was to withdraw.Read more: Flags of freedom fly again in Kherson after Russian troops retreat President Putin had announced Kherson would be annexed by Russia (Image: GETTY) General Surovikin announced the decision to withdraw from Kherson on Russian state-controlled TV (Image: GETTY)The UK Ministry of Defence has warned the loss of Kherson is likely to cause ‘significant reputation damage’ to Moscow’s military power.Sir Lyall-Grant warned this would likely have a wider impact on Russia’s international relations with key allies, including China.He reported: ‘If you look at the relationship between Russia and China, what Russia brought to that relationship was its military power.”That military power, over the last nine months, has been shown to be something of a paper tiger. So, that is very damaging, I think, for some of Russia’s traditional allies.’Don’t miss: Sunak to axe defence spending in real terms  [REVEAL]Putin mental state under question as Russian tactics ‘psychopatic’ [REPORT]’I lost everything’-The Russians in UK who fled Putin’s regime [INSIGHT] In a nightly video address, President Zelensky warned against celebrating Russia’s retreat (Image: GETTY)Moscow’s troops have already conducted a number of failed bids to seize the capital city of Kyiv, which President Putin had claimed would enable Russia to swiftly install Kremlin control over the country.In addition, thousands of kilometres of Russian-occupied territory within Ukraine have been lost over the last few months after Kyiv launched a widely successful counter-offensive operation.The UK Ministry of Defence has reported: ‘The withdrawal [from Kherons] is a public recognition of the difficulties faced by Russian forces on the west bank of the Dnipro River.’Sir Lyall-Grant claimed President Zelensky was right to remain ‘cautious’ over Russia’s decision to retreat, after the Ukrainian leader warned emotions should be ‘restrained’ until complete liberation is achieved.Although, the former national security adviser predicted Russia was unlikely to expand its territory within Ukraine over the winter months as a ‘static’ frontline will develop, marking a stalemate in the conflict.Read next: I’m going back to the Ukraine frontline, vows death row BritonFears Putin could use Bond villain-style hypersonic weapon on UkraineBritish army contribution to NATO’s eastern flank hailed ‘Win-win’Russian pundit loses cool on TV as Ukrainians retake KhersonPutin on path to revive Cuban Missile Crisis in ‘next 8 weeks’