Russia's defense minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered his troops to withdraw from the western side of the Dnipro River, which includes the strategically important southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.

The defense ministry released a video clip of a meeting regarding its so-called special military operation in Ukraine that was held on Wednesday.

During the meeting, General Sergei Surovikin, the commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, reported that his troops on the western side of the river are at risk of being isolated. He said the best option is to organize defense along the eastern bank of the river.

Shoigu told Surovikin to begin the withdrawal of troops and take all measures to ensure the safe transfer of personnel, weapons and equipment across the river.

The Russian military claimed to have taken full control of the entire Kherson region in March, shortly after it began its invasion of Ukraine. In September, the Kremlin unilaterally annexed Kherson and three other regions.

Ukrainian forces have stepped up their counteroffensives toward the regional capital city of Kherson in a bid to take back more territory from Russia.