Zelensky visits liberated Kherson after Russia's retreat 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to the recently liberated city of Kherson on Monday, after Russia ordered the retreat of its forces from the region.

“The military takes risks every day, journalists take risks,” he said. “I think it is necessary to be here and talk about Kherson residents, to support people. To make them feel that we are not only talking about it, but we are really returning, really raising our flag.”

“I would also like, in a human way, to get the emotion, the energy from people. It is motivating,” he added.

On Wednesday, Russia ordered the retreat of its forces from Kherson as Ukrainian troops were approaching the city and cutting off Russia’s supply lines, in one of the biggest setbacks for the Kremlin since the war started in February. 

After a hasty evacuation on Russia’s part, Ukrainian forces entered Kherson on Saturday and were greeted by cheering residents.

Ukrainian authorities and investigators have begun to uncover possible proof of wartime atrocities committed by Russian forces during their eight-month-long occupation of the region.  

In his nightly address on Sunday, Zelensky said officials had uncovered evidence of more than 400 war crimes committed by the Russians, who left behind a trail of dead bodies and devastation. 

“The situation in the Kherson region is still very dangerous,” Zelensky said.

Kherson is one of the four Ukrainian territories that Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted to annex in September. 

“We are step by step coming to our country, to all the temporarily occupied territories,” he told the media during his visit to the city. “And of course, it’s a pity, but it’s a long way, a difficult way because this war took the best heroes of our country.”

“We are going forward. We are ready for peace. But our peace for our country is all our country, all our territory," added Zelensky.