Russian military no longer has full control over temporarily occupied Kherson, says senior Pentagon official. It is reported by The New York Times.

According to the official, the Ukrainian defenders are now fighting hard in the city, pushing back the Russian invaders..

The publication noted that these words contradict the statement made public on Friday by the head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, Major General Sergei Rudsky, who spoke of Russia's "

They also wrote that the opinion of the Pentagon was questioned by Kherson residents and Ukrainian officials themselves, saying that the city remains under Russian control, but Ukrainians are fighting in the Kherson region..

The U.S. Department of Defense added that any Ukrainian success in recapturing Kherson would be a huge blow to Putin's war effort.. In particular, this will make it more difficult to gain control over the Ukrainian Black Sea coast and the port of Odessa, and also endanger Russian troops fighting in neighboring Nikolaev..