Kherson Residents Remain Resilient Amid Constant Shelling and Occupation

Despite the difficulties and constant shelling, about 25% of Kherson residents remained in the city, continuing to live and support each other. During the 2022 referendum, the majority avoided voting for fear of persecution, and before the war, only 21% of residents had a positive attitude towards Russia.

The American edition of The Wall Street Journal told about the life of Kherson residents now.

The occupiers demand that Ukraine give up Kherson, as well as Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions, considering these territories to be the central issue in the conflict. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that in order to achieve peace in Ukraine, it is important to take into account the opinions of Kherson residents who have experienced both occupation and war.

Vitkoff noted that although the Russians de facto control part of the Kherson region, a large part of it was liberated by Ukrainian forces in 2022. Kherson, the capital of the region, is under constant shelling by the Russians, who are located across the Dnipro River. During 2024, the occupiers fired dozens of missiles, drones, and bombs at the territory, including the destruction of part of the region by blowing up the Kakhovka Dam.

Currently, about 25% of Kherson's population has remained, and many of them, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin, continue to live, work, and support each other.

During the fall referendum in 2022, most residents of the region tried to avoid forced voting for fear of persecution by the Russians. According to polls, before the war, only 21% of Kherson residents had a positive attitude toward Russia. Witkoff expressed doubts about Russia's desire to "absorb Ukraine," although he noted that capturing Kherson would change the situation on the front lines.

Local resident Victoria Maryshchuk described the horrors of the occupation, including torture and violence by Russians. Oleksiy Sivak, one of the residents of Kherson, also survived torture during the occupation, including sexual violence.

Residents of Kherson, like Ihor Lapin, refuse to give up their hometown, even despite the constant danger. The citizen, who fought against the Russians, received numerous injuries during the fighting, but remained steadfast in his decision to defend his native land. For him and his fellow countrymen, the surrender of Kherson is impossible, as it is their home, and they are ready to stand to the end.

Despite the military realities of frontline Kherson, Natalia Myronenko and her husband Ihor decided to open their own coffee shop. However, six months later, they had to do it again after a Russian army shell exploded nearby, damaging the roof, windows, equipment and furniture. Today, traces of that attack can only be seen in the form of holes in the walls covered with paintings of cats.

On the second anniversary of Kherson's liberation, Intent 's photojournalist Natalia Dovbysh traveled to the city to capture its life through her lens. On November 11, 2022, Kherson was liberated from the occupiers. Now in the de-occupied city, the residential areas are clean, shops and markets are open, and yellow and blue symbols can be seen on the streets.

Анна Бальчінос