Ukrainians continued to celebrate Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson tonight – as British defence experts said the exit had brought “reputational damage”.
The city suffered eight months of occupation by Vladimir Putin ’s forces, leaving shortages of food and water.
But people in the capital Kyiv sang and waved flags in the streets, while in Kherson memorial plaques installed by Russian officials were torn down.
Moscow’s retreat from Kherson – the only regional capital Putin seized in the invasion – was announced on Wednesday but it may have started as early as October 22, British analysts believe.
The Ministry of Defence said: “Kherson was the only regional capital captured since February so the withdrawal brings significant reputational damage.
“The withdrawal is a public recognition of the difficulties faced by Russian forces on the west bank of the Dnipro River.”
Around 200 officers were at work in the city today, setting up checkpoints and listing evidence of potential war crimes, police chief Ihor Klymenko said. He added they were also dealing with unexploded bombs and one soldier was injured while de-mining an office.
Roman Holovnya, an adviser to Kherson’s mayor, described “a humanitarian catastrophe” in the city due to a lack of food but said supplies had begun to arrive from neighbouring Mykolaiv.
Kherson’s energy firm Khersonoblenergo said electricity was being returned “to every settlement in the region” and Ukrainian TV and radio had also reportedly resumed.
Russia confirmed 30,000 of its personnel had left the area.
Locals welcomed Ukrainian soldiers into Kherson on Friday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky hailing it as a “historic day”. He told Russian soldiers left behind that surrender was their “only chance for salvation”.
The MoD said it was “highly likely” Russians destroyed bridges over the Dnipro river as part of their retreat, while CCTV footage recorded them blowing up a nearby hydroelectric dam.
Meanwhile, street artist Banksy used Instagram to unveil his latest artwork. Murals spotted around Kyiv, including one of a judo fight, had led to speculation he was there.
He posted images of a gymnast in debris left by Russian shells, captioned: “Borodyanka, Ukraine ” – the name of the town 30 miles from Kyiv which was bombarded in February.
