Despite the fact that the Russian troops who fled the Ukrainian city of Kherson destroyed the Dnieper River and its bank west of the Dnieper River, the residents said that they did not give up.
Residents said retreating Russian troops had taken over the city, carrying supplies as they left, while media reported that retreating troops had blown up part of a radio station and destroyed heating and electricity equipment.
“It’s painful to see the city being destroyed before our eyes,” said Tetiana, who declined to give her last name.
Although many people said that the Russian people kept to themselves, the life they lived under the occupation was terrible: Electricity, water and telephone services were cut off. Bridges were blown up, making it difficult to travel between villages to buy and sell food – and mines were lurking everywhere.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has collected evidence of more than 400 crimes committed by Russian forces during their occupation of the region, including murders and kidnappings, including vandalism.
A Ukrainian official described the situation in Kherson as a “humanitarian disaster”.
Reconnecting electricity is the most important thing, and gas is already guaranteed, the governor of Kherson region Yaroslav Yanushevych said.
The Russian release marks a major success in Ukraine’s push against Moscow’s invasion nearly nine months ago.
In the past two months, the Ukrainian army has claimed to have recaptured many towns and villages north of the city of Kherson.
