Kherson Honors 24 Fallen Territorial Defense Heroes on March 1

On March 1, Kherson honored the memory of territorial defense soldiers who died during the defense of the city in 2022. The ceremonies took place in the Lilac Grove and at the memorial site at the Kherson Lyceum.

This was reported by the press service of the city military administration.

They noted that three years ago, on March 1, 2022, Russian troops entered Kherson. On the first day of the invasion, fierce fighting took place, during which at least 24 terrorist fighters were killed.

Photo: Kherson MBA

The dead were honored with a minute of silence, and flowers and lamps were laid at the memorial sites. The battlefields in Buzkovyi Gai and near the lyceum became symbols of resistance and heroism of local defenders.

Photo: Kherson MBA

"These places have become symbols of dignity, self-sacrifice, and extraordinary heroism, as the bloodiest battles of that day took place here. At least 24 heroes of the first resistance fell here... Their names are inscribed in the sacred book of our Victory... They showed the whole world what true love for the native land is and proved with their devotion that Kherson is Ukraine," the statement reads.

Photo: Kherson MBA

Kherson residents who gathered for the ceremony remembered the fallen volunteers and expressed their gratitude to their families.

What is known about the Lilac Square in Kherson

Lilac Square in Kherson became a place of important events during the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. On March 1, 2022, after receiving an order, the territorial defense soldiers went to their positions, settling in the Lilac Garden on Neftovykiv Street and Bilozerska Square. They were armed with assault rifles, F1 grenades and two Mukha RPGs. At the same time, Russian troops, including tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, were advancing on Kherson.

As a result of the unequal battle, up to 30 terrorist fighters were killed, their bodies were found in the lilac grove and in the Shumensky neighborhood. One of the collaborators, a journalist, posted a video of the executed fighters online and was notified of being suspected of treason.

After the de-occupation of Kherson, law enforcement officers and explosives experts inspected the territory of the Buzkovy Square, where they found evidence confirming the commission of war crimes by the Russian military.

In March 2023, a memorial sign was erected in Buzkovy Park in honor of the fallen terrorists. For some time, nothing was known about the battle in Buzkovyi Park. Only on March 2 did a video from that place appear, which shocked Ukrainians: among the trees mowed down by fire from large-caliber weapons were the bodies of the dead Kherson residents. Many of them were missing limbs or heads.

The families of the fallen soldiers of the 194th terrorist defense battalion, who gave their lives in the first days of the large-scale invasion, defending Ukrainian Kherson, will finally be able to receive the appropriate status.

Ірина Глухова