The Ukrainian Army has finally entered Kherson following the flag-raising in the town’s main square, an act that came after Russian forces announced their withdrawal in a decision applauded by Kiev.
The Armed Forces have stressed that Ukraine has thus «regained control of Kherson and pointed out that the «occupying forces are under enemy fire».
Ukrainian intelligence said in a statement released via Telegram that, «as planned, the announcement of the withdrawal by Russia leaves the Russian military to its fate».
«Your commanders ask you to put on civilian clothes to try to escape from Kherson on your own. Obviously you will not succeed,» reads the text, which confirms that «Ukraine is back in control of Kherson» despite the Kremlin’s insistence that the area remains Russian.
Thus, it has warned that «any attempt to oppose the Ukrainian Army will be blocked». «Every Russian serviceman who resists will be destroyed. The only way to avoid death is to surrender,» he added.
In this regard, Ukraine has arranged a phone line for such cases and asked the soldiers concerned to specify that they «want to live» once they dial the phone number. «We comply with the Geneva Conventions and guarantee food and medical assistance to all prisoners of war, as well as the possibility of being exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners,» the document stresses.
Earlier, the Ukrainian authorities had stressed that «partisans and patriots have hung the Ukrainian flag in the center of Kherson», as reported by the Ukrinform news agency. Thus, they have clarified that the flag is located in Freedom Square, where the main government offices are located.
The population, who took to the streets with Ukrainian flags, came to the area to celebrate the hoisting and to take pictures.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have claimed that they have regained control of twelve localities in the region after Russia’s withdrawal from the area. Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhni has indicated in a message on his Telegram account that since November 1 Ukrainian troops have recaptured 41 settlements, including twelve during the last 24 hours in the direction of Ptropavlivka and Novoraisk and in the direction of Pervomaiske and Kherson.
