The entrance to Kherson, the city liberated last week from the Russian army, resembles a street carnival, under the constant thunder of artillery. At the entrance to the city, local children are waiting, holding Ukrainian flags and asking those entering the city for the admission password, chanting patriotic slogans and, in general, looking excited to meet strangers, after almost nine months of isolation.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The city was occupied by the Russian army already in the first days of the war, and despite strong local protest, the Russians established a regime of occupation that meant isolation and deprivation for the city's residents for more than nine months. Residents are roaming the streets and assembling at points of humanitarian aid distribution. There is no electricity or running water in the city. Everywhere citizens carry large basins of water for drinking and bathing. Most stores are closed, but locals with an entrepreneurial spirit have already started operating stalls for selling food and other consumer products.
Video: Neta Bar
In the city center, citizens wait in a long queues to charge their cell phones. The limit is half an hour of fast charging for each citizen. An explosion of artillery in the distance every few minutes startles those standing in line.
Despite the struggle, citizens in the street approach soldiers and journalists, thank them and insist on expressing their joy at the liberation of the city, in the hope that normal life will soon return, after months of difficulties and fear. Irina Godin, an elderly resident in Kherson, stops me in the street and insists: "I know our situation looks dismal, but we are so happy to be freed and that the nightmare is over."
Serkhei and his wife Zhana are residents of Kherson who returned today (Monday), after fleeing the city minutes before the Russians arrived. Serkhei, an army commander, and Zhana, a police officer, knew their lives would be in danger if they stayed. "I left my elderly mother behind and joined the army. We fought here in the area, mainly around the town of Snihurivka. I lost many friends and relatives, I cannot remember how many," Serkhei says. "But the liberation was like a dream. I didn't stop crying all day. I couldn't wait to get back here," says the officer with moist eyes.
"It will take us years to restore what was destroyed here"
The festive spirit is felt even outside the city. Efforts to restore what was damaged in the fierce fighting on the highway is gaining momentum. I meet Valera and Pablo near a bombed out bridge. Together they are overseeing the team working to clear the ruins of the bridge and prepare it for restoration. The two work for a local company and came from western Ukraine to participate in the project. "It will take us years to restore everything they destroyed here, but we are happy to take part in rebuilding Ukraine. We are not afraid of hard work and we cannot be discouraged. If the world helps us, we will win the war and renovate everything within several years."
And there is a lot to restore. The landscape outside the city looks like a tornado of bombshells have been raging through it for months. Rows upon rows of houses with blown roofs, bullet holes and trenches dug in every corner. The gas stations and eateries on the sides of the roads stand sooty, while hopeful wanderers with carts are trying to salvage anything of value from their destroyed possessions.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
