Putting what I can together, Russian senior officers have abandoned the right (western) bank of Kherson, knowing it is doomed, while leaving behind the barely-trained, poorly-provisioned cannon fodder, with more troops behind them to shoot them if they attempt to run away. This is to make things as frustrating as possible for the advancing Ukraine army as Russia attempts to withdraw its better troops and equipment. I expect they will also use the poor cannon fodder to defend the city of Kherson, not realising they are in a death trap with no exit route.
This might explain the noticeable increase in Russian deaths, the rather slow but inexorable Ukrainian advance, the reduced official presence in Kherson City (missing flags, checkpoints) etc., together with Ukraine's scepticism that Russia has really abandoned the city.
If I was one of the cannon fodder, I'd attempt to surrender to the Ukrainian army. It's their only hope of surviving. Go for a pee in the forest and keep walking.
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