Since the beginning of the war, Russia has already had to retreat from its positions three times. First – in the capital Kiev, then in the second largest city of Ukraine Kharkiv, and now – also from Kherson. It is Kherson Russia that has the heaviest loss. Kherson was the only regional center in Ukraine that the Russian army managed to capture. But it was not possible to hold it even with the additional forces gathered during the mobilization. Moreover, the pompous ceremonies in Moscow ended with the declaration of the conquered lands as belonging to Russia “forever”.
Soon, after a week, the Kremlin had to figure out how to tell the residents as delicately as possible that they should leave Kherson, entrusting the role of bearers of bad news to the army leadership.
The main reason for leaving Kherson is to save the lives of the Russian army and preserve its combat capabilities. On the same day, Kirill Stremousov, the best known of the Kremlin supporters in Kherson, was reportedly killed in a car accident, intentionally or accidentally. But the Ukrainian army continues to liberate territories.
One should not think that Russia gave Kherson a gift. Therefore, the future advancement of the Ukrainian army will not be thoughtless – this is what President Zelensky made clear.
“We are moving very carefully. Without emotion. Without unnecessary risks – in the interests of liberating our entire land. So that the losses are as small as possible,” Zelensky said.
So far, Kherson has lived under occupation for more than eight months. At the beginning of the occupation, residents actively protested. However, the occupiers brutally repressed the protests. Kherson MP Yevgenia Belaya took refuge in Odessa from the occupation. You said in the interview that you are aware of many cases of torture.
“About the torture in the cellars – if until August they also imprisoned women in cellars, but did not touch them, then they also started torturing women. There were all kinds of tortures,” Belaja said.
Currently, the situation in Kherson is critical, as the Russian army has evacuated, taking medicines, medical equipment and even doctors from hospitals with them. The deputy from Kherson stressed:
“They act like a Mongol-Tatar yoke. They leave the devastation behind and take everything away.
It is the burglary of houses and apartments, the burglary of museums and the removal of medical equipment. We took our ambulances. Up to the point, which at first seemed to me to be invented by people, but then it turned out after the photos that in different companies they even dismantled toilet bowls and plastic windows and doors. It was all loaded onto heavy trucks and hauled away.” The city is currently without electricity.
When asked about her reaction to the news that Russia was withdrawing, the woman said she had mixed feelings. “On the one hand – yes, but on the other – you know, Russia says one thing, but does the opposite. It’s not like they took the city and left it completely. Yes, they are there.
They are disguised in civilian uniforms as ordinary citizens.
I am not a military woman, but it is understandable that our soldiers have a strategy and understanding, there are satellite companies where the movement of military forces and equipment takes place. All this is now on the left bank of the Dnipro. I’m just afraid that Kherson may become a buffer zone like Mariupol. That they weren’t going to start from the Left Bank and just destroy the city,” Belaja said.
According to her, there are not many people in Kherson who can cooperate with the occupiers. “Although it was unpleasant to know those people I personally know who switched to their side to cooperate, but their number is small. Maybe about 10%. Among our teachers, in the field of education – only about 2% ” . In my opinion, a foolish person who at some point fell for some job offers, big salaries. But it’s not for nothing that they say that neither side loves traitors,” said a resident of Kherson.
Belaya has always been convinced that Russia will not be able to hold Kherson. She believes that the Russian army will also flee Crimea. The woman justifies this by the fact that in eight months the Ukrainian army, from which no one expected such combat readiness, has shown that it is capable of recapturing the territory belonging to Ukraine. Ukrainians fear the West may limit its arms supplies. She admits the possibility that this could happen. However, it is not expected that this will happen suddenly, forcing them to the negotiating table with Russia.
Kherson deputies plan to return to the city as soon as possible, as soon as the army allows.
“Even civilians, volunteers – they can only enter when the army says it’s not dangerous. Because it’s right. The army is responsible for the safety of civilians. And as soon as the army says – yes, you can, despite the risks that they may be there with mining and demining, so, of course, we will go to Kherson. They have already taken a low start here, so that as soon as possible – we will be the first there! Because everyone is madly homesick. Yes, for the plundered, yes, corrupted and corrupted – but that is your home. It is your place of strength, your memories, your family, many things…” Belaya said.
CONTEXT:
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine. Putin claimed that NATO would use Ukraine as a springboard for aggression against Russia, although there was no evidence of such claims. Ukraine believes Putin’s real goal is to destroy Ukraine’s statehood and bring the territory under Moscow’s control.
In early autumn, in the Ukraine counterattack liberated from the occupants more territory than Russia had managed to capture since early April.
November 9th The leadership of the Russian troops announced, that a decision was made to withdraw troops from the city of Kherson and move to the left bank of the Dnieper River. On November 11, units of Russian troops left the city of Chersonwhere soon The Ukrainian soldiers entered.
