Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Visits Kherson to Celebrate Recapture from Russia

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Visits Kherson to Celebrate Recapture from Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the southern city of Kherson Monday to celebrate its recent recapture from Russian forces.

Walking the streets of the city, Zelenskyy met with soldiers and took pictures with citizens. "This is the beginning of the end of the war," he said. "We are step by step coming to all the temporarily occupied territories."

Zelenskyy added, "We are moving forward. We are ready for peace, peace for all of our country."

He admitted, however, that the town's recapture came at a heavy price. The fighting, he said, had taken "the best heroes of our country."

Zelenskyy thanked NATO and other allies for their support and for providing military assistance. He said the arrival of movable rocket systems from the United States had made a big difference in Ukraine's war effort.

The retaking of Kherson marks one of Ukraine's biggest successes in its war against Russia. Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February.

But large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine are still under Russian control. Even Kherson remains¹ within reach of Russian shells and missiles. Heavy fighting was reported elsewhere in the country, with Ukraine reporting civilian² deaths and injuries.

Families gathered in Kherson's main square to celebrate Russia's withdrawal³. Some stood in front of the main government building, which until recently was occupied by Russian forces.

Many people carried Ukrainian flags, which had been banned in public under Russia's occupation.

Yevhen Teliezhenko lives in Kherson with his family. He told The Associated Press he did not feel safe flying his Ukrainian flag outside his home while Russia controlled the city. But on Monday, the 73-year-old and his wife drove around the city flying the flag.

The couple stopped to get Ukrainian soldiers who liberated⁵ the city to write their names on the flag. "They were fighting for us. We knew we were not alone," Teliezhenko said.

His wife, 61-year-old Tetiana Hitina, added, "Finally freedom!"

While the liberation of Kherson brought excitement and hope, the situation remains difficult. On Monday, the city had no power and water. Food and medicines were in short supply. Life is expected to be hard for weeks to come as winter arrives and energy supplies for heat are limited.

Kherson was the only provincial⁶ capital that was captured by Russia. Russia seized the city in the first weeks of the invasion. It was an important gain for Russia because the city is situated⁷ in a strategic position on the Dnieper River.

The Dnieper's wide waters now separate Ukrainian troops from the city's former occupiers. Russia withdrew from the city last week after facing repeated attacks from Ukrainian forces.

Words in This Story

liberate⁴ – v. to help someone of something be free

provincial – adj. relating to a province: one of the large areas some countries are divided into

strategic – adj. helping to achieve a plan, usually in business of politics

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

4 liberate   

v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由

参考例句：

• They did their best to liberate slaves.他们尽最大能力去解放奴隶。
• This will liberate him from economic worry.这将消除他经济上的忧虑。

5 liberated   

a.无拘束的，放纵的

参考例句：

• The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。
• The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。

6 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

7 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。