a resident of Kherson recounts the departure of Russian forces, their violence and their “feeling of impunity”

She speaks from a cafe in Kherson, where music resounds. There is therefore a lot of current, even if certain districts of the city are still experiencing cuts, but especially wifi, which attracts around sixty people to the establishment.

After eight months of Russian occupation, there is already an air of liberation in Kherson. This woman, whom we will call Katia, confirms the departure of the soldiers from Moscow. “Fewer and fewer Russians are in town these days!”she says. “They have even completely disappeared from certain neighborhoods.”
But are they disguised as civilians, and installed in deserted accommodation, as the Ukrainian army suggests? ? kyiv says it fears a trap from Moscow, but no, Katia has seen nothing of the sort.

“My neighborhood is like a village: everyone knows each other. If Russians were preparing a battle by hiding in our buildings, we would have noticed them!”

Katia, resident of Kherson

at franceinfo

What she has seen, on the other hand, since March, are the violence of the Russian forces on the population. “Living in Kherson under occupation was like being in prisonshe says. You have no rights. Everything can happen. The Russians can come to your house, you can be arrested in the street, and even killed. And they have a feeling of impunity.”

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When the Russians started to evacuate people, Katia recounts the pressure, the messages asking her to leave her accommodation, 15 to 20 messages a day. So why did you stay all this time, despite everything? She explains that an escape was not possible for everyone.

“Those who didn’t leave Kherson simply couldn’t afford it. Leaving is expensive! And then there are those who weren’t healthy enough to make the long journey.”

Katia, resident of Kherson

franceinfo

The Russians, for their part, have just been relentless in looting the medical sector, says Katia. Hospitals, pharmacies too, have been robbed. Even ambulances, and fire engines, according to Katia: “They wanted to scare people.”, she says. Like her neighbours, Katia had stocked up on water, gas and food for the winter. And now she is watching, perhaps a little more serenely, for the arrival of soldiers from kyiv.