Ukrainian President Zelenskyy calls liberation of Kherson ‘beginning of the end’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a triumphant go to to the newly liberated metropolis of Kherson on Monday, hailing the Russian withdrawal because the “beginning of the end of the war” but in addition acknowledging the heavy value Ukrainian troopers are paying of their grinding effort to push again the invading power.

The retaking of Kherson was one in every of Ukraine’s largest successes in practically 9 months for the reason that invasion. It served one other stinging blow to the Kremlin and will grow to be a springboard for additional advances into occupied territory.

Zelenskyy walked the streets of town Monday, simply hours after warning in his nightly video deal with of booby traps and mines left behind by the Russians earlier than their retreat.“This is the beginning of the end of the war,” he stated. “We are step by step coming to all the temporarily occupied territories.”The finish of Russia’s occupation of town has sparked days of celebration — but in addition uncovered a humanitarian emergency, with residents residing with out energy and water and in need of meals and medicines. Russia nonetheless controls about 70% of the broader Kherson area.

Zelenskyy has beforehand appeared unexpectedly in different front-line areas at essential junctures of the conflict and his newest go to was each laden with symbolism and the widespread contact — clearly geared toward boosting the morale of each troopers and civilians alike. I

n video revealed by a presidential aide, a visibly moved Zelenskyy stood along with his proper hand on his coronary heart and sang the nationwide anthem, as troops saluted and stood to consideration and soldier steadily hauled the yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flag up a flagpole. Other footage confirmed Zelenskyy waving to residents who saluted him from an condo window and yelled: “Glory to Ukraine!” The reply — “Glory to the heroes!” — got here again from Zelenskyy’s group, made up of troopers and others.

The president additionally distributed medals to Ukrainian troopers in a central sq. and posed for selfies with them. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday refused to touch upon Zelenskyy’s go to to Kherson, saying solely that “you know that it is the territory of the Russian Federation.” The Kremlin illegally annexed the Kherson area and three others earlier this yr.

After the Russian retreat, Ukrainian authorities say they’re discovering proof of torture and different atrocities.

In his nightly video deal with on Sunday, Zelenskyy stated with out giving particulars that “investigators have already documented more than 400 Russian war crimes, and the bodies of both civilians and military personnel have been found.” “In the Kherson region, the Russian army left behind the same atrocities as in other regions of our country,” he stated. “We will find and bring to justice every murderer. Without a doubt.”

Residents stated departing Russian troops plundered town, carting away loot as they withdrew final week. They additionally wrecked key infrastructure earlier than retreating throughout the huge Dnieper River to its east financial institution. One Ukrainian official described the scenario in Kherson as “a humanitarian catastrophe.” Reconnecting the electrical energy provide is the precedence, with fuel provides already assured, Kherson regional governor Yaroslav Yanushevych stated. The Russian pullout marked a triumphant milestone in Ukraine’s pushback in opposition to Moscow’s invasion virtually 9 months in the past.

In the previous two months, Ukraine’s navy claimed to have retaken dozens of cities and villages north of town of Kherson.