Kherson was occupied by Moscow’s forces for eight months during which hundreds of people were tortured or raped in detention centres, and it has been bombed daily for months
The pack of stray dogs scatter in terror as artillery fire Âexplodes just 300 yards away and booms across the city’s deserted streets.
Two suicide drone strikes then hit, followed by automatic rifle fire from Russian troops dug in a mile away across the Dnieper river in battle-scarred city Kherson. A woman serving coffee in a cafe ushers people inside to shelter from the latest attack. The people here have suffered more than most in Ukraine since Russia invaded 18 months ago today.
Kherson was occupied by Moscow’s forces for eight months during which hundreds were tortured or raped in detention centres. It has been bombed daily since being liberated in November. Children have been abducted from schools and sent to Russia. Vladimir Putin ‘s troops also blew up the nearby Kakhovka dam and flooded the city. Taxi driver Ivan Petronka, 68, nearly drowned when flood water swept through his home near the river.
The grandfather says: “It went right up to my mouth. I was panicking trying to get out. I thought I was going to drown but I was pulled to safety. Then we saw mines in the water. It was terrifying thinking we could be blown up any moment. My neighbour’s house was bombed. I had bits of building in my leg. I am sick of war after so long. These Russian devils need to get out of our country. We will win because God is on our side.”