Ukrainian Troops Have Officially Entered Kherson: Following unconfirmed local reports yesterday, Ukrainian troops have officially entered Kherson city as of November 11. Ukrainian forces, mindful of landmines and traps left by Russian forces retreating to the left bank of the Dnieper River, were seen late this week in videos and photographs shared by local people on social media.
Viral video clips and photographs show residents in the city, who avoided forced evacuation by Russian troops in recent weeks, hugging and kissing Ukrainian troops.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Agency confirmed that troops have re-entered the city in an update shared on social media, stating that Kherson is “returning under Ukrainian control” and that “the Ukrainian military is entering the city.”
Kyiv also promised protection for all Russian soldiers abandoned by their military leaders and left in the city. The Defense Intelligence agency said that Russian soldiers’ rights will be protected under a scheme known as “I Want To Live.”
“Your commanders ordered you to dress in civilian clothes and try to flee Kherson independently. Obviously, you won’t succeed,” the agency said, offering support for those who can’t find their way out.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also celebrated the news on Friday, saying that “today is a historic day.”
“We are in the process of taking Kherson back.”
See Local People Celebrate in Uk
Videos shared online show local people elated over the news, with some soldiers being lifted into the air in a town square.
One video shows local people crying and chanting “glory to the Armed Forces!”
⚡️Ukrainian troops have entered Kherson.
According to videos published online, Ukrainian soldiers are in downtown Kherson. People chant “glory to the Armed Forces!”
Kherson, the only Ukrainian regional capital occupied by Russia since Feb. 24, is now officially liberated. pic.twitter.com/rhdfnDI8Pv
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) November 11, 2022
In another video, soldiers are approached by a local woman who asks “can I hug you?”
Macer Gifford, a British volunteer soldier fighting with Ukrainians in Kherson Oblast, published an update on Twitter announcing that troops have officially re-entered the city.
“Ukrainian troops enter Kherson!” Gifford wrote. “Amazing news. This is what I’ve dreamed about for the last 4 months. The blood, the sweat and the tears were worth it. Let’s clear the city so I can start dreaming of my next objective!”
Update from Ukraine ??
Ukrainian troops enter Kherson! ?? Amazing news. This is what I’ve dreamed about for the last 4 months. The blood, the sweat and the tears were worth it. Let’s clear the city so I can start dreaming of my next objective! ????? pic.twitter.com/6JVjJo6G3Y— Macer Gifford (@macergifford) November 11, 2022
Russia Confirms Withdrawal Complete
In a statement shared on Friday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that all remaining troops have now been moved out of Kherson city and over to the east bank of the Dnieper River as of Friday morning.
The Russians also claimed that the withdrawal was completed with “not a single piece of military equipment of weapons” left on the west side of the river – a response to Ukrainian officials’ claims that Russian troops were leaving behind landmines in residential buildings, sewers, roads, and streets.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.