KIEV, Ukraine – A celebration of “victory” was heard in Kiev. A small but noisy crowd, singing songs, waving flags and chanting slogans. It all follows the entry of Ukrainian troops into the key southern city of Kherson after more than eight months of Russian occupation.
Enthusiastic residents of Kherson itself wasted no time in coming out, waving flags and hugging their saviors … Ukrainian soldiers.
Rally marking entrance of Ukrainian soldiers in Kherson.
(Fox News)
In a televised speech, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called the moment “historic”.
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Previously, Russian troops had been spotted stealthily on a makeshift pontoon bridge to reach the opposite bank of the river, still occupied by the Russians.
“No military personnel losses have been authorized,” noted a Russian military spokesman.
However, it is believed that some soldiers may have been left behind and are turning into “civilians” to try to blend in with the crowd.
Ukraine will do a short job of it, we were told in a Zoom call with the mayor of the nearby city of Mykolaiv.
Rally marking entrance of Ukrainian soldiers in Kherson.
(Fox News)
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“We are ready to go ahead and clean our land of all occupants,” said Oleksander Senkevych.
The events in Kherson are not good news for Russian President Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. He has been decidedly low-key over the past week.
As we have seen, however, it was fantastic news for a country that was looking for a kind of break after being battered by months of fighting.
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And feel particularly affected as winter approaches as Russian strikes hit the power grid here.
We asked a young woman at the impromptu demonstration in Kiev how she felt. “Incredible,” she replied. “Cherson?” I asked. “Ukraine!” she replied.
I asked another gentleman why he was so happy, to which he replied: “Because Kherson is free!”
Rally marking entrance of Ukrainian soldiers in Kherson.
(Fox News)
And then there was a lady who usually lives in Kherson and has been in Kiev for five months to get away from the Russians. She told me she didn’t believe this turn of events would happen.
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“Feel the time,” he said. Indeed, that night was seasonally warm. “Just like my home in Kherson,” she explained.
The fact is that many fear that this is likely only a brief respite from the cold winds of war, which continue to lash Ukraine.
