Videos Show Kherson Civilians Welcoming First Ukrainian Troops Jubilantly chanting the initials of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Kherson civilians welcomed the first troops to enter the main square in the city. The move puts Kyiv on the cusp of achieving one of its most significant victories of the war and deals a bitter blow to President Vladimir Putin, who just a month ago declared Kherson a part of Russia forever. Read the latest on the war in Ukraine at the link in our bio.