Ukraine’s Zelenskyy calls liberation of Kherson ‘beginning of the end’

Volodymyr Zelenskyy grimly noted that the fighting “took the best heroes of our country”.

Ukrainian soldiers take a selfie with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, centre, during his visit to Kherson, Ukraine (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has triumphantly walked the streets of the newly liberated city of Kherson, hailing Russia’s withdrawal as the “beginning of the end of the war”.

But he also acknowledged the heavy price Ukrainian troops are paying in their grinding effort to push back the invaders.