Russian troops fleeing Kherson are attacked by Ukrainian forces with rockets.

Russian forces in southern Ukraine were on the brink of collapse on Thursday as Ukraine cautiously gained ground, edging closer to the port city of Kherson.

A day after Moscow’s defence minister ordered its troops to retreat from the regional capital, the fighting reached within 10 miles of city limits.

Russian soldiers were abandoning wounded comrades as they made a hasty retreat, sources on the front line told The Telegraph.

Kyiv announced the liberation of more than a dozen surrounding towns, reclaiming some 60 square miles, en route to Kherson.