A turning point in the Right Bank offensive: Ukraine marks the anniversary of the liberation of Kherson
How the de-occupation of the region’s sole regional centre changed the configuration of the southern front.
11 November: The Liberation of Kherson – its history and military significance. Photo: Aрмія Inform
11 November Ukraine marks Kherson Liberation Day — a date that has gone down in recent history as one of the most significant strategic and morale-boosting turning points in the Russia-Ukraine war. It was on this day in 2022 that the vanguard units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine entered the regional capital, which the Russian invaders had managed to temporarily capture at the start of the full-scale invasion.
The de-occupation of the right bank of the Kherson region and the regional capital itself was the result of a multi-phase offensive operation by the Silnovskyi Defence Forces, which lasted several months and combined the high-precision destruction of enemy logistics with sustained pressure on the front line.
Strategic concept and isolation of the enemy force
The liberation of Kherson was not a one-day assault, but the result of a gruelling and meticulously planned campaign. Using high-precision artillery and missile systems, the Ukrainian military systematically disabled key transport routes across the River Dnipro — the Antonivsky road and railway bridges, as well as the crossing near the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station.
Systematic artillery fire deprived a force of many thousands of Russian troops on the right bank of a steady supply of ammunition, fuel and equipment. Finding itself in a logistical trap and facing the threat of total defeat, the Russian command was forced to decide on the emergency withdrawal of its forces to the left bank of the Dnieper.
The key outcomes of the operation were:
- Elimination of the bridgehead on the right bank: the enemy has lost the operational capability to continue its advance towards Mykolaiv and Odesa.
- Liberation of significant territories: over 3,500 square kilometres of territory and dozens of settlements in the Kherson region have returned to Ukrainian control.
- Shift in the front line: The Dnieper has become a natural barrier and a new line of contact, enabling forces to be redeployed to defend other sectors.
The heroism of the townspeople and the modern realities of life on the front line
The first few days following the liberation are etched in the memories of millions thanks to the images from Freedom Square in the centre of Kherson, where thousands of residents, waving national flags, welcomed the Ukrainian defenders. Despite eight months of a harsh occupation regime, attempts at forced passportisation and repression against activists and the civilian population, the city has retained its Ukrainian identity.
Today, Kherson remains an outpost on the southern front line. Under constant artillery, mortar and drone fire from Russian forces on the opposite bank of the Dnipro, the city is demonstrating exceptional resilience. Maintaining critical infrastructure, keeping public services running under fire and providing medical care remain a daily challenge for the authorities and the city’s residents.
The day of Kherson’s liberation has gone down in Ukraine’s modern history as a symbol that no temporary occupation is permanent, and that the recovery of national territory remains an absolute priority.
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