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'The city is alive': A brief peace in Kherson, but residents fear what comes next
BBC • • nation
Key Points:
- Kherson has experienced its first two days of quiet in years due to a US-brokered temporary ceasefire, allowing residents to enjoy rare moments of normalcy amid constant Russian aerial attacks.
- The ceasefire, lasting until Sunday, was facilitated by efforts from US First Lady Melania Trump to enable a safe evacuation of civilians from the nearby Russian-occupied city of Oleshky.
- Despite the pause in hostilities, there are concerns that Russian forces are using the truce to strengthen their military positions and prepare for a renewed offensive on Kherson once the ceasefire ends.
- Residents have cautiously returned to previously dangerous areas, including the heavily damaged "red zone," to retrieve belongings and visit graves, highlighting the human toll and destruction caused by the conflict.
- The population of Kherson has drastically decreased from over 250,000 to about 65,000 since the invasion began, with civilians enduring ongoing hardship even during periods of relative calm.
