Russian atrocities found in Kherson

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces that retook the city of Kherson found evidence of new war crimes by Russian occupiers.

“The Russian army left behind the same atrocities as in other regions of our country,” he said in his nightly address.

“Investigators have already documented more than 400 war crimes,” he added, without clearly specifying the area in which they were found.

“The bodies of the killed are being found, both civilians and military,” he said, vowing to “find and bring to justice every murderer”.

Ukrainians in the liberated city have expressed a deep sense of relief over the end of months of occupation as Russian forces pulled out. But, like Mr Zelensky (pictured), they said the Russians had left a trail of destruction, laying landmines and going on a looting spree – even stealing animals from a zoo – before their humiliating withdrawal.

“God will punish them. All of them. For everything they did,” said Svitlana Vilna, 47.

Ruined buildings and destroyed military vehicles could be seen at the entrance to the strategic Black Sea port city, where battles raged just days ago. A smell of burning wood wafted through the air.

“I ask you not to forget that the situation in the Kherson region is still very dangerous,” Mr Zelensky said. He said a Ukrainian sapper had been killed while removing a mine, while four others were injured.

The President said workers were moving to restore critical infrastructure destroyed by the Russians, including water, electricity, internet and television links, as well as transport and postal services.

Kherson is one of four regions in Ukraine that Vladimir Putin claimed to have annexed in September. An AFP war correspondent said there were no scenes of jubilation in Kherson, but many locals said they felt an overwhelming sense of relief after Kyiv had wrested back control of the city.

Residents queued quietly to get food, and many adults and children were walking around wrapped in Ukrainian flags.