08 June 2025
(Photo: Most)
Journalists from the Kherson-based newspaper Most organized a festival called Kherson Puzanok for Kherson residents temporarily living in Odesa and Odesa residents, during which visitors could enjoy fish that is considered to be typical of Kherson.
The organizers of the festival told Intent that they also raised money for the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the event, raising 26,500 hryvnias.
Due to security concerns, the festival was open only to those on the list, the number of participants was limited, and it took place on the territory of the Odesa Film Studio. The event was not politically charged and was partly funded by the media outlet's own money and partly by donors.
The Azov pufferfish (Alosa tanaica) is a small (up to 20 centimeters long, up to 60 grams) fish from the herring family that enters the Dnipro River to spawn in spring, when the water warms up to 15 degrees Celsius. In the Dnipro, the pusanok spawns until early June. And this fish is an informal brand of Kherson.
The Kherson pupfish run is comparable in importance to the local herring fishing season in the Danube in Odesa Oblast, the so-called "dunaika".
The Dnipro is not the only river where pufferfish spawn, they are also found in other rivers outside of Ukraine, but the cult of pufferfish is a Ukrainian, Kherson phenomenon.
The online media outlet MOST is an independent publication from the Kherson region that has been operating in the region since 2012. Since 2014, the media has been the main watchdog publication in the region, and since 2022 it has been the most popular media in Kherson.
Since 2025, the editorial board has decided to hold offline events for Kherson residents who live outside the region. In this way, the journalists decided to support their fellow countrymen and expand the circle of loyal readers and community members.
Photo: "Most"
Кирило Бойко