Residents of Kherson are accustomed to shelling, but the occupation, in their words, is “to die in a living body.” Photo: STRINGER/REUTERS
It was one of the greatest victories of the war.
Ukrainian troops marched through the streets of Kherson, waving the national flag high above their heads, delighted with what they had achieved. .
Children wrapped in yellow and blue rushed into their arms, and women threw endless streams of flowers into the air.
At that time, many of those living under Russian occupation , have described the day Ukraine liberated the city as the best moment of their lives.
But as the second anniversary of Vladimir Putin's invasion approaches, some fear their freedom may be short-lived as Russian troops are once again on the front line. achieving its first major success since May. .
In Kherson, from 40 to 80 shells fall on the city every day. Photo: Verity Bowman
One soldier who helped Ukraine liberate Kherson told The Telegraph he was worried about the possibility of Russia retaking the city again, canceling all work. built on heavy sacrifices.
“There is always a chance. Russia has a large population and a very strong and large army. This is a difficult opponent, so everything depends entirely on us,” he said.
“I hope someday I will be able to come to the anniversary and celebrate it. Now I continue my journey in the war. Glory to Ukraine.”
The Telegraph reconnected with people who had previously spoken of life under Russian occupation and found a break with their liberated city.
Many fled to safer parts of Ukraine . . Of the city's pre-war population of 300,000, only 71,000 remain.
Yar Linsky, a 20-year-old student, visited Kherson in the summer, but discovered that the city he remembered had long since disappeared.
“I just smiled with nostalgia and cried with grief. What happened to my city?
One student said that the places of his childhood were destroyed. Photo: Verity Bowman < p>Mr Linsky recalled jumping into the air when he heard about Kherson's liberation that his phone flew out of his hands and broke, but said the happiness he experienced was short-lived.
Kherson was captured by Russia in the early days of the war, becoming the first urban center to fall into the hands of Putin.
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It was A puppet government was installed, Russian television was broadcast daily, and the use of Ukrainian currency was not encouraged.
Under the occupation, even ordering coffee in Ukrainian became a crime.
>Ukraine then withdrew Russian troops on November 11, 2022, one of the country's biggest successes in the war.
In the days that followed, Vladimir Zelensky walked the streets triumphantly, calling the victory «the beginning of the war.» end of the war.» Many hoped that this would be followed by quicker victories.
But today Russian troops remain on the left bank of the Dnieper, and the only barrier between them and Kherson is water.
Residents of Kherson are accustomed to the sounds of constant shooting, which in the silence cause anxiety. Photo: VERITY BOWMAN
Ukraine was forced to retreat from the town of Avdiivka in Donetsk on Saturday, its first major loss in months, Kyiv warns. stockpiles of weapons are dwindling.
Residents of Kherson are so accustomed to the crack of gunfire, the whistle of rockets and the roar of their attacks on houses that the silence is confusing.
Dee, who chose to keep her identity secret for security reasons, said: «I feel fine during the attacks.»
She has spoken to Telegraph monthly since Kherson was first captured.
“On the contrary, I feel uneasy when everything is quiet around. My psyche has adapted to explosions and is simply not used to remaining silent. My body has adapted to these realities.”
According to officials, from 40 to 80 shells of different types land in Kherson every day.
Keith was one of the soldiers who were greeted with waving flags and flowers after the fighting in the Kherson region.
He paid a heavy price for the freedom of Kherson, losing an eye and witnessing the death of his commander, making the victory “equally sweeter.”< /p>
“The day of the liberation of Kherson is one of the happiest and most memorable events of my life,” he said.
Keith described civilians tearing down Russian propaganda billboards and burning them. them, repainting something in Russian colors of blue and yellow.
“The commander allowed us to get out of the car and go to the people, where we were greeted as their sons, brothers and fathers,” he said. “People couldn't believe they were seeing us. The feeling was incredible.”
Keith's fight continued even before the celebration ended. He is currently serving in the army in an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine.
For those who used to call Kherson home, is to become a real victim of Putin's war. Photo: Verity Bowman
Anton Tatochenko, 24, told The Telegraph that life in Kherson is now “like a constant lottery, where the maximum prize is life.”
“Unless you come to terms with the fact that tomorrow may not come
“If you don’t accept the fact that tomorrow may not come
“ p>
Mr. Tatochenko said that the moment he saw Ukrainian military equipment rolling through the streets, he fell into a state of “euphoria.”
“When the city was liberated, there was euphoria, I can’t say it any other way. It was a state of blind joy, when you simply rejoice at our military, you want to touch them, hug them, say “thank you.” For me, it was the best day of my life.»
But he said that this state of jubilation lasted only a week before I again realized the realities of the war.
«Now, of course, everything it feels different — people are just tired.”
Although the streets of the city were filled with crowds on November 11, today the city remains a ghost town.
“My life has changed. changed irreversibly'
Photos show piles of rubble and deserted streets. Kherson's center is too close to ongoing fighting for local residents to feel safe.
«The city center resembles a desert,» Mr. Tatochenko said. “There are very few cars driving there, few people visiting and, of course, there are rocket attacks. I don’t think there is even a single building left in the old center of Kherson.”
36-year-old Evgeniy Spichak believes that the war will not leave the psyche of Kherson residents due to the utter devastation of the occupation.
He mourns daily the loss of his brother, who was his only remaining blood relative.
Mr. Spichak did not discover that his brother had been killed by invading Russian troops until several days after he was buried in a mass grave.
“I believe that Kherson really became a victim of this war,” he said. “After this event, my life changed irreversibly. And if someone says that time heals, this is just a cliché and an excuse. Do you think I've let go and feel better? No, no, no.»
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