Footage shows the shocking moment explosions rocked a dam near Kherson as fleeing Russian forces threatened to leave major destruction in their wake.
A huge blast hit the Nova Kharkova dam near Kherson, in a move that environmentalists have warned could cause catastrophic flooding across Kherson and put hundreds of thousands of lives in danger.
The shocking CCTV footage is seen as evidence of deliberate destruction by the Russians as they withdraw from Kherson city, with panicked troops reportedly dressing as civilians to escape.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War said in October that Russia may plan to blow up the Nova Kharkova dam to flood Kherson.
The dam provides electricity for hundreds of thousands of people and if it fails to operate it will be another huge blow to Ukraine's already faltering energy grid.
Environmentalists have said that blowing up the dam would create an “atomic bomb” of water crashing through towns and villages.
The Kremlin previously issued threats saying it would mine the area and unleash a “grandiose water apocalypse” to prevent a counter-offensive.
The Antonivsky Bridge, the main crossing over the Dnipro River in the city of Kherson, was also blown up on Friday just before Ukraine’s forces entered the city.
The Institute Study of War said that satellite imagery corroborates statements made by both Ukrainian and Russian sources that Russian troops destroyed the "Antonivsky Bridge and Railway Bridge (near Kherson City) and the Nova Kakhovka dam bridge (east of Kherson City near Nova Kakhovka) over the Dnipro River and the Darivka Bridge (northeast of Kherson City) over the Inhulets River."
They said this was likely a final attempt to block Ukrainian advances towards central Kherson Oblast.
Ukrainian forces raised their flag in central Kherson city on Friday and Ukrainians have been flocking to the streets to celebrate victory against the odds after Russia claimed all its troops had retreated.
Residents said the bridge explosion gave hope that Moscow’s troops would not soon be back.
Ukrainian President Zelensky appealed to any Russian soldiers still on the west bank to surrender.
“We guarantee that you will be treated in accordance with the law and international standards. And to those Russian military who disguised themselves in civilian clothes and are hiding somewhere, I want to say that you cannot hide. We will find you anyway."
The statement came after there were reports that Russian soldiers were masquing as Ukrainians in plain clothes.
Although Russian forces still control the broader Kherson region, losing the capital city is a huge blow after pro-Kremlin figures repeatedly claimed Russia would stay in Kherson “forever.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin was desperate to annex Kherson, in violation of international law, as the city has strategic importance by offering the only land connection to Crimea. It is the gateway to the Crimea peninsula that Russia previously annexed.
Moscow said yesterday that it had withdrawn all its soldiers and military hardware from Kherson after it had admitted days earlier that Ukrainian missile strikes had destroyed its army’s supply lines to the city and left its soldiers isolated.
Despite the victory, many have issued caution as mines and booby traps likely litter the area. The Russian pullback of Kherson has been exceptionally methodical, heightening the risk that the Kremlin's forces will have laid tonnes of traps in their wake.
Ed Arnold, research fellow for European security at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told Sky News that the recapture of the port city was "hugely significant" for Ukraine and a "moral victory" for the country.
Mr Arnold went on to say that while Ukrainian troops had "momentum" they would now have to cross the Dnipro river which is a "complex operation".
He said: "Military operations in the south will be quite complicated for Ukraine. However, saying that I do think the chances of continuing the counter-offensive in the east is probably for prudent for Ukraine at this time."
In Kherson city, locals pulled down a propaganda billboard emblazoned with the words: “Russia is here forever" and were seen crying and hugging journalists and Ukrainian troops.
They danced in the streets and sang patriotic songs around a bonfire: “Our glorious Ukraine shall — hey hey — cheer up and rejoice."
The Ukrainian army warned Russian soldiers who had been left in Kherson to lay down their arms or be killed. “Any Russian servicemen who offers resistance will be destroyed. Your only chance to avoid death is to immediately surrender."
Alexander Fomin, one of the members of the Russian-imposed administration in occupied Kherson oblast, has said Henichesk, along the Sea of Azov, has been declared the temporary administrative capital of Kherson.
Henichesk is very close to the border with the Crimea region, but a significant distance from Kherson city and the Dnipro River.
Despite the happiness in Kherson, Putin's brutal army continues to wreak havoc in Ukraine and yesterday morning a five-storey block of flats in Mykolaiv killed six people as they slept.
