Ukraine Recaptures Kherson, Russia Retreats Across Dnipro River

As Ukrainian troops enter the city of Kherson, which has been under Russian occupation for months, videos across the web show the city’s residents celebrating the ousting of Moscow’s invading force.

Key Quotes: In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated, “today is a historic day. We are getting the south of the country back, we are getting Kherson back.” In another video, Zelenskiy thanked western European nations for their ongoing support in the war, stating, “when Europe is truly united, not a single tyranny can take the freedom of Europeans away.” In a Facebook post, The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency promised the “survival and safety” of any Russian troops remaining in Kherson if they complied with surrender instructions.

For Context: The city of Kherson is the provincial capital of the Kherson region. It is the only provincial capital captured by Russia since the invasion began in February, and is the westernmost point of the invasion. The city sits on the west bank of the mouth of the Dnipro river, which runs down the middle of Ukraine. Russian forces have retreated back east across the river. Kherson is one of the regions Moscow declared to have annexed in September.

How the Media Covered It: The recapturing of Kherson and videos of celebrations are being covered heavily across the spectrum. CNN (Left Bias) called the retreat a “humiliating setback” for Moscow. Reuters called it a “humbling” moment for Russia.