On Friday, Ukrainian troops entered Kherson for the first time since Russia began its occupation of the city in March, in one of Russia’s major early successes in the war. The region was one of four to be illegally annexed after self-styled referendums were held in September. At a ceremony in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson was „non-negotiable”. But in the following weeks Ukraine began to make gains in the south of the country, advancing along Dnipro river towards Kherson and putting Russian forces under increasing pressure. Finally, Russian forces withdrew and Ukrainian troops entered the city on Friday.
The loss of Kherson, taken in the early stages of the invasion, is a major setback for Russia – though Moscow insists it is still Russian territory. Russia had declared it the administrative centre of the illegally-annexed Kherson region, and it was the only regional capital to be occupied.
Over a month ago, Moscow proclaimed it Russia’s administrative capital for the Kherson region, following the illegal annexation of four regions in September. Russia claimed almost all the city’s residents backed this. But now that the city has been liberating, Ukrainian flags fly once more.
In a crowd, many were crying. People who haven’t seen each other in months of terror embrace again.
The spirit of Ukraine at the moment appears to involve patriotic pride and pleasant relief, but also anxiety regarding a war that, despite this significant victory, is by no means over. Trauma of living in close quarters with the terror of the Russian military is not easily forgotten.
From time to time, distant explosions are heard from the city’s outskirts: shelling, or Ukrainian engineers blowing up mines and booby traps left by the Russians. Authorities in Kherson were working Sunday to restore critical infrastructure after Moscow announced its troops had withdrawn from the city.Yaroslav Yanushevych, the governor of the Kherson region, was quoted by media as saying Russian troops had „mined all critical infrastructure objects.” Train services to Kherson were expected to resume this week, according to the head of the Ukrainian state railways, but another regional official, Yuriy Sobolevskyy, told Ukrainian TV that the humanitarian situation „remains very difficult.” „Most houses have no electricity, no water and problems with gas supplies,” Sobolevskyy said.
President Zelensky visited the city of Kherson days after it was liberated by Ukrainian troops. He spoke to soldiers, saying Ukraine is „moving forward” and ready for peace. In his visit on Monday, Mr Zelensky told troops that Ukraine is „ready for peace, peace for all our country,” Reuters news agency reported. He thanked Nato and other allies for their support in the war against Russia, adding that high mobility artillery rocket systems (Himars) from the United States had made a big difference for Kyiv. The president addressed a crowd gathered in Kherson’s main square, some of whom waved Ukrainian flags or wore them draped across their shoulders, a Reuters journalist in Kherson said.
Zelensky stated that he is „really happy” about the liberation, as are the people of Ukraine. Asked where Ukrainian forces might advance next, he said: „Not Moscow…We’re not interested in the territories of another country.”
In response to Mr Zelensky’s visit, the Kremlin said that Kherson was part of Russia.”We leave this without comment,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding: „You know, this territory is part of the Russian Federation.”
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently probing potential war crimes conducted by Russian forces in Ukraine.
