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“We dare to speak again:” Kherson residents rejoice at the liberation of the city

BFMTV was able to go to Kherson, the last major city liberated from Russian occupation by the Ukrainian army in the east of the country. “We can breathe freely again,” a resident testifies.

After weeks of battle, the iconic city of Kherson, occupied since the first days of the war by the Russians, has returned to Ukrainian control. And joy dominates among the inhabitants that BFMTV was able to meet.

For the first time in nine months, those living under occupation by the Russian army were able to speak by phone with their relatives who fled west at the start of the conflict.

“During the occupation, we had the Russian network, so we had to use messaging, and only in writing! But the voice of a loved one is very strong, ”explains a resident who was able to speak with his nephew.

“We can breathe freely again”

The liberation of the city made many inhabitants happy. “It’s like a burden fell off our shoulders. We dare to speak again, we can breathe freely again, walk down the street, communicate, not be afraid, sing Ukrainian songs…because before we were too afraid.” The Russians scared us,” a Ukrainian testifies into the BFMTV microphone.

But despite this feeling of return to normal life, there is still no water or electricity in Kherson. According to Zelensky, “the Russian occupiers absolutely destroyed all critical infrastructure.”

And the sounds of shelling can be heard throughout the day: a sign that the military presence in the city remains essential.

Russian mines around the city.

“Unfortunately, the inhabitants have to be very vigilant, because all the surroundings of the Kherson region are mined by the enemy,” Anton, a Ukrainian soldier, told BFMTV.

On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian military was leaving the occupied territories, leaving behind “thousands of unexploded mines.”

“But the local population can rest easy. We, the military, will protect them by all means,” says Anton.

However, Kherson, freed, remains almost inaccessible. For security reasons, no civilian can enter the city without military authorization.

Author: Élise Philipps and Sébastien Savoye, with Ariel Guez
Source: BFM TV

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