Russia-Ukrainian War: Five days of vacation in Kherson, without electricity, in ruins, but without Russian troops

The autumn military campaign was very successful for the Ukrainian army. The reconquest of the Kharkiv region began in September. In October, Ukraine managed to recapture the town of Lyman in the Donetsk region, which was a very important logistics center for Russian troops in Donbass.

But the biggest milestone came in November after the recapture of Kherson, the only regional center Russia has managed to occupy since the start of the war.

The recapture of Kherson, a city of about 280,000 inhabitants, had many military and political consequences. It is the first time that Russia has lost the territory it considers its own.

Control of Kherson opens possibilities for Ukrainian forces to recapture southern Ukraine, including Crimea. After the Russians withdraw from this city, Kiev can expand its grain exports.

Yet behind all the geostrategic importance From Kherson comes the reality of its inhabitants, who lived under Russian occupation for almost nine months, from March 2nd to the beginning of November. How do they react to the arrival of Ukrainian troops?

hugs and flags

The inhabitants of Kherson seem to have come to life again. For several days they waved their hands at any arriving car from another region of Ukraine. They embrace soldiers, policemen and journalists. The whole world is covered in Ukrainian flags.

For children there is a special game – hunting for soldiers’ signatures on T-shirts and flags of Ukraine. The lucky ones manage to receive a chevrons military, an object of particular pride.

Ukrainians are often called “the singing nation”. In Kherson this is immediately evident: everyone sings the traditional songs or hymn from Ukraine. Everyone does it, from the youngest to the elderly. Sometimes you think you’re on the set of a musical.

The arrival of Ukrainian troops also means the return of the mobile network. In the central square of Kherson, the local government has installed a small antenna so that people can have an Internet connection again.

For the first time in a few months, the residents of this city can call their relatives and say they’re alive. As they speak, almost everyone weeps with happiness.

The other thing that attracts people to the central square is the generators which give the possibility to recharge the cell phones. It’s that Jerson is still left without light. There is also no water in the city because the Russian troops destroyed all the electrical infrastructure before leaving the city and the water pumps are not working.

However, a look into the hearts of the Gersonites reveals that the people are ready to put up with this situation.

clarion He talked to a dozen people on the street and they all thought the same thing: “We don’t have electricity, we don’t have water, but we don’t have Russians and that’s the most important thing.”

One cool thing that many point out is the spirit of freedom in the air. They are no longer afraid of being detained or tortured, deported to Russia or mobilized his army.

Compared to many other Ukrainian cities, Kherson suffered very little damage. The Ukrainian army forced the Russian troops out of the city without a fight and bombing. And since there was not much fighting near Kherson, the locals say so The hardest and most terrible thing during the occupation was fear.

“You know you can go out to the store and never come home. The Russians arrested everyone,” he says clarion Valerii, a 42-year-old electrician.

The liberation of Kherson by the Ukrainian army changed fear into another emotion – anger. Anger against the Russian army and everything Russian they brought with them. On Friday November 11th, when the first Ukrainian soldiers entered the city, locals began to remove, cut and burn posters with Russian propaganda.

empty city

The city is quite empty, many people have fled there for fear of fighting. There are also those who received Russian passports and decided to leave Kherson together with the soldiers.

The villagers who stayed don’t see much of a problem with this. “If they like it better in Russia, let them live there. We will not leave our land,” says Olena, a teacher from Ukraine who has been in the city all the time and hasn’t left her house because of the Russian occupation.

We left Kherson with a fire convoy. They complain about the amount of work they have. All roads are littered with bullets and mines. You have to check each town house by house. Tens of kilometers of electricity grid need to be repaired.

This also includes the inhabitants of Kherson. But their eyes, their hugs and their songs, their flags and T-shirts with soldiers’ signatures show that they agree with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who once said it’s better not to have electricity, water and heating but living free and no Russians.

The people of Kherson have many challenges ahead of them, but they are ready to fight and resist.

Jerson, special for Clarin

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