Russia's defense ministry claims that its troops have completed their withdrawal from the western bank of the Dnipro River, including the regional capital of Kherson.

Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said on Friday that more than 30,000 troops with about 5,000 pieces of equipment had moved to the eastern side of the river.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was "a historic day." He said in a video message that Ukrainian troops are advancing toward the area and that special armed forces units are already in the city of Kherson.

A member of Ukraine's regional council for Kherson said in a news conference that the regional capital is now almost fully under Ukrainian control.

He added, however, that many Russian soldiers remain in the city and that they are dressed as civilians.

The Ukrainian defense ministry's intelligence agency posted a message in Russian on social media calling on the remaining Russian soldiers to surrender.

It urged them to give up, as that is the only way they will live. It said if they resist, they will be eliminated.

The Ukrainian forces are believed to be strengthening their positions to gain full control of the strategically important city of Kherson, and watching closely what the Russians do next.