It’s a scene of celebration repeated across Kherson, now freed from Russian control. Everyone in uniform gets a hero’s welcome – the release is clearly nice and they’re keeping it tight. This comes as Ukraine’s national anthem, which was banned under Russian occupation, echoes through the central square. ‘Panic’ Appears in Russian Ranks – War in Ukraine Latest One woman, who tells me her name is Babushka Alla, is overjoyed – and wants to thank the armed forces. “We are so happy that our strong men have returned to us and freed us from the invaders! The people here have lived under nine months of terrifying occupation. With this in mind, it is easy to understand why they cry tears of relief and joy and cling to their liberators. I meet Natalia, who is holding back tears. “We only knew fear. We were afraid of everything. We were afraid of car sounds, we were afraid to use phones, we hid everything, we hid our children!” Holidays are contagious. People are dancing and throwing their hands in the air. Everyone is waving a flag and some are surfing the city on top of cars shouting, “Glory to Ukraine, Glory to the heroes.” Many here feared that this time would never come. And now they love it. It is a rare moment of good news in a war that has caused so much pain. And it is perhaps a reflection of the strength of the inhabitants that they continued as a kind of normal. Some shops are open and there are some cars on the street. But the broken buildings and the dark secrets they contain are hard to forget. Members of Russia’s internal security service, the FSB, were at a hotel in the city center before it was hit by a Ukrainian artillery strike. From there they imposed the oppressive rule of Moscow. Justice is demanded by Olga who arrived outside the building. He says that many people in the city simply disappeared. “They went for water – and they left! They went to the market – they left! They went for medicine – they left! Many people have disappeared”. Survival under occupation was a life lived in fear. And although freedom is a powerful currency, basic services remain cut. There is no electricity and there are queues everywhere for water. People waiting patiently in line holding empty plastic bottles. The Russians spent their time here talking about a new homeland. Posters for the virtual referendum still hang heavy over the city. But Vladimir Putin’s illegal annexation and claim that Kherson is Russia’s forever means nothing when the people here have a different idea of ​​who they want to be. And this is evident as most of the city’s population is dressed in a Ukrainian flag or holding one. The truth is that the forces of Moscow built nothing and destroyed a lot. The TV tower is a twisted skeleton of burnt metal. The Russians blew it up as they left, cutting phone and internet, a parting gift from a humiliated and defeated army. The Russians may have retreated but they didn’t go far. They are now just 2km away on the east bank of the Dnipro River – smoke billowing on the horizon as explosions are heard in the distance. It’s a sobering reminder that this war is far from over. But for now it’s all about reconnecting with the outside world for humans. Back in the main square, soldiers have set up satellite internet so people can tell their loved ones they are OK. Looking at their phones everyone tries to get enough signal to get a message out. But amidst this joy and relief, there are moments of reflection. In fluent English, Andrii describes to me what the past nine months have been like. “It feels like freedom at last. I feel like victory is coming here. From the very first day, I knew it was coming. You have to have something to live for and this was the moment to live for. Big day. Liberation is not something that happens every time. It’s a once-in-five-generations thing. It’s a moment to stay.” There is anger here too about what Russia has done in Ukraine. As we leave the city center we see a group of young people tearing down posters put up by the Russian invaders. And with the Kremlin forces in retreat here they start shouting loudly, wanting their soldiers to liberate the rest of the country.