«The positions were well fortified, and the enemy did not want to leave them»: the Mykolaiv military officer revealed the details of the operation to liberate Kherson

Illia Zelinskyi, the commander of the combined unit «Buzkyi Guard», who took part in the liberation of Kherson from the Russian occupiers last November, revealed the details of the deoccupation.

He told about this in an interview with the publication «GRUNT».

The military officer, whose unit fought as part of the 59th brigade, says that the offensive for them began at the end of August 2022 with the extremely difficult «Ingulets operation».

— Probably, for all units that took an active part, and not the last 3 days, the counteroffensive in the Kherson region did not even begin in August, because it was preceded by the «Ingulets operation», it was very difficult due to the water obstacle. The fighters of our unit also took part. For us, as a unit, the full transition from defense to attack began on August 29 with an operation as part of the tactical group of the 59th brigade, and in principle we conducted the entire offensive and entry into Kherson in the combat formations of the brigade. We assumed a full-fledged role as a reconnaissance, as an assault group, and a fire support group. And it was dynamic enough. The guys, together with the assault unit, were able to carry out a fairly heavy attack on the enemy in a difficult place, but the subsequent reconstruction of the enemy's fire control system made it possible to break his self-defense with quick attacks. Then there were also heavy battles, but I believe that the battles from August to October, when we were advancing, played a key role, — says the soldier.

According to Ilya Zelinskyi, three factors played a key role in the successful offensive: cutting the enemy's logistics, providing the Armed Forces with weapons, and competent planning of the operation.

— The positional war is complex, with changes in mood, changes in dynamics at the front. Due to some peculiarities of information presentation, it is perceived as «they took something quickly, class, it must have been so exciting and cool.» It's not the case because it's difficult and exhausting. Emotional state and health shake normally. The density of fire was very strong until the moment when they felt the enemy's lack of provisions, until they cut off their logistics. Not everything went smoothly for us. There were very difficult bloody battles. It was easy only when we exhaled and entered the center of Kherson. We went in battle formations at the respective lines: Molodyozhne, Naddnipryanske, Antonivka, we went there. Already then, the commander allowed us to leave, go and see what was happening in Kherson. They met people on the way. In the emotional state in which we entered there, it was touching. Then the outskirts of the city and Kherson itself. It was a state of euphoria, — he adds.

When the Russian troops retreated, they left behind a large amount of ammunition and equipment. According to Illia Zelinskyi, the found trophies were later used in the destruction of the enemy.

Despite the current situation, in which the liberated city comes under fire from the Russians almost every day and suffers casualties, the military man is sure that last year's operation was not in vain.

— How can you say for nothing? We are vacating our territory. Every person who is waiting for us in the occupied territory deserves to be freed by us. This is our land, I consider it mine. If this is our property, then I must establish justice and take it away, — said Illia Zelinsky.

We remind, fleeing from the right bank of the Kherson region, the occupiers blew up all the bridges across the Dnipro, boiler houses, communication towers and the television center in Kherson. The city was completely cut off by the Russians. Communication and Ukrainian radio have already been returned there. Currently, the military is clearing Kherson from the occupiers and looking for collaborators.

After the Russian troops were forced to flee from Kherson, they declared the temporarily occupied Henichesk the «administrative capital» of the Kherson region.

The day before, on November 11, the Armed Forces entered Kherson, which had been occupied since the first days of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. Ukrainian flags fluttered in the city, including over the State Administration building.