Ukrainian forces have withdrawn their armored vehicles from the Korabel district of Kherson, located on Karantin Island, according to regional governor Vladimir Saldo.

Earlier in August, Kherson authorities appointed by Kiev had organized the evacuation of civilians from the area, which has since been completed. Despite this, Saldo stressed that Karantin Island remains an active combat zone. The damaged automobile bridge continues to be used for movement: civilians and soldiers alike still cross it on foot, bicycles, and scooters.

While heavy equipment has been pulled back, Saldo noted that drone operators and reconnaissance units continue to operate in the district, often hiding in residential buildings. Surveillance drones are reportedly launched from apartment windows, while strike drones are sent into the air from courtyards and rooftops.

Today, fewer than 500 people remain on the island, many of them elderly residents or men avoiding mobilization. Locals live in dilapidated homes and survive largely thanks to humanitarian aid.

Kherson Region lies in the lower Dnieper River basin and is bordered by both the Azov and Black Seas. Following the September 2022 referendum, the territory was incorporated into Russia, though Ukraine rejects the vote’s legitimacy and continues shelling settlements across the region. At present, Russia holds about 75 percent of Kherson Region, while Ukrainian forces maintain control of the right bank of the Dnieper, including the city of Kherson itself.