Kherson celebrates Russian exit even as residents take stock of damage

A Kherson resident kisses a Ukrainian soldier in central Kherson on Sunday (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Residents of Kherson celebrated the end of Russia’s eight-month occupation for the third straight day on Sunday, even as they took stock of the extensive damage left behind by the Kremlin’s retreating forces.

A jubilant crowd gathered in the southern Ukrainian city’s main square, despite the distant thumps of artillery fire that could be heard as Ukrainian forces pressed on with their effort to push out Moscow’s invasion force.