"Worst Defeat Since Soviet Collapse" ... The Spot Left Behind by Russian Troops Hastily Leaving Kherson

Ukraine Recaptures Strategic Stronghold Kherson After 8 Months
Russia Hastily Withdraws Leaving Mortar Shells, Military Uniforms, and Books in Warehouse

On the 25th of last month (local time), a Ukrainian soldier is searching for explosives in the southern Kherson region. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Ukraine has effectively recaptured the southern strategic area of Kherson from Russian occupation about eight months after it was seized. This recapture of Kherson is considered Ukraine's greatest achievement since the outbreak of the war, sparking waves of celebration among citizens within Ukraine. In contrast, Russia is showing a contrasting atmosphere, with voices of criticism calling it "the worst defeat since the collapse of the Soviet Union."

Kherson is a strategic key point that connects the Crimean Peninsula, forcibly annexed by Russia in 2014, and the eastern Donbas region (Donetsk and Luhansk provinces), controlled by pro-Russian separatist forces, by land.

Russia occupied this area immediately after invading Ukraine in March and forcibly annexed it as part of its territory along with other occupied regions such as Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia at the end of September.

However, Ukraine has ignited its will to resist against Russia and launched an offensive to reclaim the occupied territories. As a result, following the northeastern Kharkiv province, Ukraine recaptured Kherson province on the 11th (local time).

Ukraine cheered the recapture of Kherson, regarded as its greatest military success. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a national address on the 11th, "Today is a historic day," adding, "Our troops are approaching Kherson, and special forces have already arrived in the city." He also said, "Despite the threats and oppression from the occupying forces, the residents of Kherson never gave up on Ukraine."

Citizens in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv also gathered in the city to celebrate the recapture of Kherson. On social media, photos were posted showing the Ukrainian flag raised on some administrative buildings in Kherson. Another video showed the removal of a Russian propaganda billboard near western Kherson that read, "Russia will be here forever."

On the 11th (local time), citizens gathered in downtown Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, to celebrate the recapture of Kherson. Photo by Reuters

Russia is showing a very different atmosphere from Ukraine. Following the news of the retreat from Kherson, hardliners in Russia have voiced criticism calling it "the worst defeat since the collapse of the Soviet Union." Major foreign media outlets evaluated, "This Russian withdrawal from Kherson is one of the largest retreats following the early failure to capture the capital Kyiv and the retreat from northeastern Kharkiv in September."

Near Kherson, signs of a hasty Russian military escape were detected. According to The New York Times (NYT), on the 11th, in a village called Blahodatne west of Kherson, abandoned Russian military uniforms, food supplies, and mortar shells were found. This location, recaptured by Ukrainian forces on the 9th, is known as a gateway to Kherson.

Ukrainian soldiers searching this village discovered a warehouse, apparently used as lodging by Russian troops, where military uniforms, canned food, and books were scattered in disarray. Nearby, another warehouse contained green wooden crates stacked with hundreds of Russian mortar shells. On the floor, mortar shells were neatly arranged, with fuses already loaded, ready to be fired at any moment.

A Ukrainian soldier who participated in the search told the NYT, "The Russian troops left in a hurry," adding, "They had prepared to fire these shells at us, but it seems they didn't have time to do so."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.