Ukrainian soldiers who helped liberate Kherson describe relief, joy and apprehension

Col. Roman Kostenko liberated his home village in Kherson last week. Russian troops occupied his childhood home for months. They took his body armor and medals and left a grenade and a vulgar message on an outside wall. (Frank Langfitt/NPR)

Col. Roman Kostenko strode down the dirt and gravel road of his home village in Ukraine's Kherson region carrying his country's flag in hand.

An elderly neighbor greeted him with a bouquet of blue and yellow flowers, wrapped her arms around his shoulders and wept, according to a video Kostenko provided NPR.