A resident from the Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson advised CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that Russian troopers are in Kherson however insisted that the town is a “Ukrainian metropolis and we wish to keep a Ukrainian metropolis.”
“Our metropolis is… flooded with Russian occupants, however the flag remains to be Ukrainian and we hope it should keep Ukrainian,” 27-year-old Kherson resident Svetlana Zorina mentioned. “We belief our mayor. We belief our authorities. We belief our military. We consider in our victory. We’re a Ukrainian metropolis, and we wish to keep a Ukrainian metropolis,” Zorina mentioned.
Kherson Mayor Ihor Kolykhaiev mentioned Wednesday in an announcement shared on his Fb web page that the Ukrainian navy is not within the metropolis and that its inhabitants should now perform the directions of “armed individuals who got here to the town’s administration” —indicating that the town has now fallen underneath Russian management.
British navy intelligence launched early Thursday famous that “some Russian forces have entered the town of Kherson,” however cautioned that the navy state of affairs on the bottom “stays unclear.”
In an announcement on Thursday, Hennadii Lahuta — the top of the Kherson Regional State Administration — mentioned Russian forces have “utterly occupied” the regional state administration constructing.
Kherson resident Zorina described to Amanpour the state of affairs on the bottom within the metropolis. “We strive to not go exterior as a result of it is harmful. At this time, for the primary time, I spotted to test close to a retailer like 100 meters from me, if they’ve some meals, however there was nothing as a result of we’re surrounded by Russians, and it is inconceivable to ship right here meals or medication.”
“So we principally attempting to save lots of what we are able to and we’ve meals provides, however it will likely be sufficient for a few weeks,” she mentioned.
Zorina mentioned that the town’s administration is finishing up duties regardless of Russian disinformation. “Our mayor is in touch with us, and metropolis administration is in touch with us. There are Telegram channels. There’s a website online of our mayor’s workplace, they usually share info, unfold info with us,” she advised CNN.
“There’s a enormous propaganda that Russians tried to unfold amongst Kherson and Ukrainian folks, it is like we wish to develop into a a part of Crimea. It is not true. We do not wish to. The mayor simply tells us how the town will operate in the course of the subsequent couple of days, that transport will work for individuals who work in, you realize, electrical station, water station, et cetera.”
When requested by Amanpour in regards to the Russian presence within the metropolis, Zorina mentioned that Russian troopers are “not conscious why did they arrive right here, what’s their objective, they usually deal with —Russian military deal with the troopers very badly. They’re crying… our individuals are feeding them.”
Zorina described a grave humanitarian state of affairs within the metropolis because of Russian aggression and mentioned that there have been a “lot of civilian buildings that had been struck… individuals are sitting within the flats or basements, and lady — girls who’re pregnant gave delivery to their youngsters in basements.”
“I do not wish to depart. I do not wish to develop into a refugee. I wish to dwell in my nation. I used to be born in Kherson. I lived right here nearly all my life, and I do not wish to change it, and I hope it will be over quickly, and Russian military going to depart, occupants are going to depart,” she mentioned.
“I wish to dwell in Ukraine. I am Ukrainian,” she added.
