Russian troops were seen fleeing from Melitopol, a city in the southern portion of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia province, exiled mayor Ivan Federov said on social media.

“The occupiers ran from Melitopol towards the temporarily occupied Crimea,” Federov said on the messaging app Telegram.

He added that “columns of military equipment” from Melitopol were seen passing through Chonhar, some 70 miles to the southwest and bordering Crimea.

“This was expected — the rapid Ukrainian offensive leaves them no chance,” Federov said.