Ex-Putin advisor compares Kherson retreat in Ukraine to the collapse of the Soviet Union, warning of 'really big' consequencesA former Putin advisor likened Russia's retreat from Kherson to the collapse of the USSR."The political consequences of this huge defeat will be really big," Markov added.—ISW (@TheStudyofWar) November 10, 2022Russia's humiliating pullback from Kherson comes amid sustained pressure from Ukrainian forces, who have made gradual progress regaining territory as part of a major counteroffensive launched in recent months.Kherson was the first major city and the only regional capital captured by Russia since it launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February.Ukrainian officials have expressed skepticism over the Kherson withdrawal, with some suggesting it's a trap, but US Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that "we're seeing the beginnings" of the Russian withdrawal from Kherson."