Ukrainian soldiers recount their arrival in Kherson
Ukrainian soldiers advancing on the city of Kherson, evacuated by Moscow forces on Thursday, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday of their high-risk journey and their relief on arriving in the city so far in the hands of the Russian army.
“We see pleasant, smiling faces, flowers, embroidered towels with which we welcome our vehicles”described by telephone Andriï Jolob, commander of a medical unit which was then about fifty kilometers from Kherson.
Another Ukrainian soldier testified just after entering the city and shared with AFP videos he recorded while approaching this locality. On one of them, we can see a young woman in the countryside shouting “Glory to Ukraine! » and send kisses in the direction of the military car.
In another video, dozens of civilians greet the car with applause and bouquets, to cries of “Our rescuers! »near a bus stop over which the national flag flies. “It’s like that everywhere”assures this soldier who wishes to remain anonymous.
“Our enemy is skilled and dangerous. This advance that we see now and the flight of the occupants towards the Dnieper, it was really a surprise for each of us “, comments Andriï Jolob. If he experiences ” joy “he manages his expectations and stays ” mistrustful “as constantly recommended by the Ukrainian authorities, who fear a trapped withdrawal of the Russian forces.
The omnipresent danger is, according to him, that of mines laid by the Russian army before its departure and that of unexploded ordnance, which can be triggered at any time.