Zelenskiy visits Kherson, vows to reclaim occupied territories

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has visited Kherson days after his forces liberated the city from Russian control.

Zelenskiy’s visit came as the heads of U.S. and Russian intelligence met in Turkey for the highest level publicly acknowledged face-to-face U.S.-Russian talks since the Russian invasion in February.

He told a gathering of soldiers that they had “proved it was impossible to kill Ukraine”, then held a minute’s silence for troops who died during the offensive.

Residents had also turned out, some with children or baby strollers, some waving Ukrainian flags or draped in them.

Speaking later to reporters, Zelenskiy said Ukraine was ready for peace, but only on its terms that would restore all occupied territory.

Also Read: Ukrainian troops retake Kherson amid jubilation

“You see our strong army. We are step by step coming through our country, through the temporarily occupied territories.” He said.

No senior Russian official had made an analogous visit during eight months of occupation of the city, which President Vladimir Putin proclaimed “eternally Russian” six weeks ago.

War crimes

Earlier, Zelenskiy said Ukraine had already gathered evidence of at least 400 war crimes committed by Russian troops during their occupation of the area, including killings and abductions.

“Bodies of dead civilians and servicemen have been found,” he said in an overnight televised address.

“The Russian army left behind the same savagery it did in other regions of the country it entered,” Zelenskiy said.

Russia denies its troops target civilians or have committed atrocities in occupied areas.

Mass burial sites have been found in other parts of Ukraine previously occupied by Russian troops, including some with civilian bodies showing signs of torture.

Zainab Sa’id