![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wests-himars-opened-the-door-to-ukraines-liberation-of-kherson/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/maxresdefault-12.jpg&description=The first sign that Vladimir Putin's "liberation" of Kherson might not be permanent came on a hot evening last June, when an almighty explosion rocked the city's outskirts. Despite the spectacular fireball that lit up the night sky, Russian forces insisted there was nothing much to see. An agricultural warehouse had somehow caught ablaze, they claimed, igniting stocks of combustible fertiliser inside. Ukraine had a different explanation for the fireworks. According to presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak, it was one of the very first uses of Kyiv's new US-supplied Himars missiles, which can land 200 pounds of explosives onto a dinner table-sized target from 50 miles. Far from being a random strike, it had wiped out a Russian ammunition dump previously beyond reach - a "reality collision", as Mr Podolyak put it, for Mr Putin's forces. In the months that followed, "General Himars", as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is colloquially known, paid many more visits to Kherson, wreaking havoc on the bridges, supply depots and command HQs that Russia relied on to keep Kherson subdued. On social media, the strikes were gleefully dubbed "Himars O'clock" - chiming a timeline that finally ended in the small hours of Friday, when Russia withdrew its 30,000 troops from the city. Last night, celebrations in Kherson were in full swing, the only projectiles in the air being champagne corks popping in the city's main square. What had been just a few huddles of revellers on Friday became large crowds by yesterday, as fears that the Russian withdrawal could be a feint began to ease. "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes! Glory to the Nation," shouted the crowd, as the national anthem was sung, the Ukrainian flag waved, and cars blasting horns formed jubilant motorcades. This weekend's jubilant scenes contrast starkly with the despair there eight months ago, when it became the first of Ukraine's major cities to fall. Russian troops raised their flag there on March 2 - just a we){kind=link}
The highly accurate rocket system wrought havoc on bridges, supply depots and command HQs, helping to push the Russians out of the city
The first sign that Vladimir Putin’s “liberation” of Kherson might not be permanent came on a hot evening last June, when an almighty explosion rocked the city’s outskirts. Despite the spectacular fireball that lit up the night sky, Russian forces insisted there was nothing much to see. An agricultural warehouse had somehow caught ablaze, they claimed, igniting stocks of combustible fertiliser inside.
Ukraine had a different explanation for the fireworks. According to presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak, it was one of the very first uses of Kyiv’s new US-supplied Himars missiles, which can land 200 pounds of explosives onto a dinner table-sized target from 50 miles. Far from being a random strike, it had wiped out a Russian ammunition dump previously beyond reach – a “reality collision”, as Mr Podolyak put it, for Mr Putin’s forces.
In the months that followed, “General Himars”, as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is colloquially known, paid many more visits to Kherson, wreaking havoc on the bridges, supply depots and command HQs that Russia relied on to keep Kherson subdued. On social media, the strikes were gleefully dubbed “Himars O’clock” – chiming a timeline that finally ended in the small hours of Friday, when Russia withdrew its 30,000 troops from the city.
Last night, celebrations in Kherson were in full swing, the only projectiles in the air being champagne corks popping in the city’s main square. What had been just a few huddles of revellers on Friday became large crowds by yesterday, as fears that the Russian withdrawal could be a feint began to ease.