In Kherson, a humanitarian truce has given residents a respite — but it expires on Sunday

A respite in a city under fire

In Kherson, which the Russian army occupied for eight months in 2022 and which, after Kyiv liberated it, became one of the most dangerous cities in Ukraine for civilians, a humanitarian truce is in effect. Over the past three days it has allowed the evacuation of residents of Oleshky — a neighboring city under Russian occupation that is gripped by hunger. Gardener Volodymyr Omelchenko called the truce 'a breath of fresh air': on Freedom Square in the city center, which Russian forces shelled relentlessly, only the rain and a lawnmower can be heard. The break will be short — the truce expires on Sunday shortly before 11 p.m., AFP reports.

Everyday life under drones

The Russian army drops glide bombs, missiles and drones on the city that hunt people in the streets — from a vegetable vendor to workers repairing a roof, as confirmed by videos published by Russian military bloggers on Telegram. Residents move on foot from tree to tree, hiding under anti-drone nets which, according to Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of communications for the regional administration, stretch for more than 70 kilometers. Cars systematically become targets, so driving is more dangerous than walking.

A city people try not to leave

According to Tolokonnikov, about 63,000 residents remain in Kherson, compared with more than 280,000 before the Russian invasion. 'Russia is trying to make Kherson unfit for life, but it will not succeed in paralyzing the city,' he told AFP. The region has 15 underground hospitals, with 11 more under construction. Many residents stay despite the resumption of hostilities they expect is inevitable: Ivan, an electrician whose house was damaged by a guided aerial bomb, sent his wife and ten-year-old daughter to a calmer city but stayed himself — 'if everyone leaves, the city will become empty and lifeless.' Konstantin, who sells animal feed, has not taken a day off in months because there are many abandoned animals in the city that need to be fed.

What is known and what remains unclear

None of AFP's interlocutors harbor any illusions: the war, they expect, will resume immediately after the truce expires on Sunday. 'It is quite possible that they are moving equipment in,' said Ivan, referring to Russian troops. The details of the agreement itself — who concluded it and on what terms, whether an extension is possible — are not disclosed in AFP's report; it is also unknown whether more residents of Oleshky will be able to be evacuated after Sunday.