Ukraine celebrated on Saturday the first anniversary of its army’s liberation of Kherson, “a city that represents hope,” a date that also marks the front’s last major development as Kiev’s ambitious counteroffensive has since encountered impenetrable conditions Russian defenses.
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On November 11, 2022, Ukrainian armed forces ended the Moscow army’s eight-month occupation of this major city in southern Ukraine.
Excellent news for Kiev and a real symbol: Kherson was the first major city and only regional capital to fall into the hands of the Russians at the start of their invasion in February 2022.
On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky paid tribute to this “city that stands for hope” and praised its “heroism.”
“This day is one of the anniversaries that strengthen Ukrainians’ confidence in their abilities,” he assured in a video published on his Telegram channel.
AFP
“This year Russia took revenge for the freedom of Kherson and other of our liberated cities. “The bombings are taking place every day,” the president continued, assuring that between Friday evening and Saturday morning “nearly 40 drones and missiles” were fired at Ukraine.
Because even if Kherson is no longer occupied, life there, as in many Ukrainian regions, remains very difficult.
The population of the southern city, which lives in almost daily fear of Russian bombing, is just 60,000, according to authorities, compared to 300,000 before the war.
AFP
And the Ukrainian armed forces saw no such celebrations a year after celebrating their victory in Kherson.
The front almost froze and the Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in June did not bring the hoped-for progress.
Nevertheless, Volodymyr Zelenskyy wanted to be combative on Saturday: “Like last year, we have to destroy the occupier. Ukraine does,” he claimed.
The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Valery Zalouzhny, also reminded on Saturday that his soldiers “continue to fight and defend our country with determination.”
He accompanied his message with a video showing how residents of Kherson cheerfully greeted Ukrainian soldiers a year ago – images in which we see a watermelon, a fruit that has become a symbol of the city’s liberation.
“I am convinced that we will win together,” promised Valery Zalouzhny.
In early November, the commander-in-chief caused controversy when he declared that the war was “at an impasse” – something that both Volodymyr Zelensky and the Kremlin had strongly rejected.