Ukrainian soldiers entrenched north of the Russian-held city of Kherson, told Reuters on Friday (October 22) there were indications that the Russian troops could be preparing to abandon the defence of Kherson and retreat across the Dnipro River.But despite those indications they confirmed that the artillery and rocket fire from the Russian side was still intensive.“The enemy impacts our positions with quite a powerful fire. The enemy constantly shells us with artillery,” said Nazar, who did not provide his last name, but a callsign – ‘Fuhas’.“We are not relaxing. But this is part of our job which we willfully signed up for,” Mykola who goes by callsign ‘Varvar’ told Reuters.Ukrainian forces began moving in August to reclaim Kherson, a ship-building center on the Dnipro River, and in recent weeks, they have driven the Russians back 20-30 kms in parts of the battlefront.Kherson province is one of four partially occupied regions that Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 30 proclaimed part of Russia in the largest annexation of territory in Europe since World War II.