They were holding Kherson. No Ukrainian attack on Kherson while Russia held it was successful. What Russia could not be 100% sure of was stopping all missiles/drones aimed at the dam above Kherson. If Ukraine managed to blow the dam, a huge Russian force would be trapped on the East side of the river for at least some days until bridges could be rebuilt.

So Russia pulled back to the west side and now bombs the shit out of the east side. A political defeat for sure for Russia. A big one. But not a military defeat.

Ukraine has yet to rebuild the east side of Kherson because the Russians are well placed just a few hundred meters away with a huge artillery advantage.