Kherson: President Zelensky visits liberated city
President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the city of Kherson days after it was liberated by Ukrainian troops.
He spoke to soldiers, saying Ukraine is "moving forward" and ready for peace.
The loss of Kherson, taken in the early stages of the invasion, was a major setback for Russia - though Moscow insists it remains Russian territory.
Russia had declared it the administrative centre of the illegally-annexed Kherson region, and it was the only regional capital to be occupied.
Kherson was captured in March, weeks after the invasion began. The region was then one of four to be illegally annexed after self-styled referendums were held in September.
At a ceremony in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson was "non-negotiable".
But in the following weeks Ukraine began to make gains in the south of the country, advancing towards Kherson and putting Russian forces under increasing pressure.
Finally, Russian forces withdrew and Ukrainian troops entered the city on Friday.
Locals were seen celebrating, some reuniting with loved ones they had not seen for months. The mood in the city was one of jubilation and relief, but also trepidation the BBC's Jeremy Bowen reported.
During his visit on Monday, Mr Zelensky sang the Ukrainian national anthem as the country's flag was hoisted above the main administrative building.
He told troops that Ukraine is "ready for peace, peace for all our country," the Reuters news agency reported.
He thanked Nato and other allies for their support, adding that high mobility artillery rocket systems (Himars) from the United States had made a big difference.
FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63621426
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