Aftermath Oleksandrivka & Kherson

November 2022

People use a free generator recharge phones, talk to their loved obnes, family and friends, send messages, it is a large hall filled with people at tables at Kherson train station.
People use a free generator recharge phones at a train station.

On 11 November 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU) recaptured the city of Kherson and surrounding areas. The region was liberated after more than seven months of occupation by Russia. The destruction of infrastructure, homes and lives left traces all over the region.

Youngsters waving the Ukrainian flag and making peace signs along the road to Kherson, it is raining and cars are passing by.

Media showed pictures of joy and celebration, journalists were taken to the city in convoys to document this historic moment.

Forensic gloves lying on the ground used by a special forensic unit.

The fight for this victory was tremendous and the casualties both military and civilian of unmeasurable proportions.

The silhouette of a civilian casualty that litterally melted on the asphalt road.
The silhouette of a civilian casualty in Oleksandrivka.

While the happiness over the victory remains, a grimmer reality is waiting. In Oleksandrivka the remnants of violence are everywhere.

Landscape with the remains of military and civillian vehicles.
Ammunition haning in a tree. Leftovers, traces, signs from the fighting and shelling.

Ammunition and mines for personnel and armored vehicles were left behind. It will possibly take years to declare all areas free of mines and other explosive devices.

Landscape scene in Oleksandrvika with furniture outside, location sign and Ukrainian flag.
Two soldiers, military carry human remains in a body bag into a vehicle, van. body bags marked for soldiers and unmarked for civilians have been prepared by Ukrainian forensic teams for collection by

Body bags marked for soldiers and unmarked for civilians have been prepared by Ukrainian forensic teams for collection by unit "200" in charge of collecting the bodies and human remains.

A woman cries in the street while watching special units take care of the deceased and Ukrainian military.
A woman cries in the street while witnessing how forensic units take care of the deceased.

The people that remained in the occupied villages continue to account their horror stories and relive their nightmares.

A Tank waving the Ukrainian flag with military on top entering Oleksandrivka at night.
The Ukrainian military entering Oleksandrivka at night.

In the city of Kherson, only days after liberation, shelling from Russian forces lasted all day and air defense fire could be heard continuously.

Three people were gravely wounded as a result of cluster ammunition loaded with
Metal darts or "flechettes" from highly forbidden cluster ammunition. A woman reportedly lost an arm while another suffered from massive blood loss, a man was also seriously injured.
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