“Today is a historic day,” Zelensky said in a speech. “We are reclaiming the south of our country, we are reclaiming Kherson.”
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Wednesday that Russian forces would withdraw from Kherson, as Moscow scrambled to resupply forces in the city.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday morning that it had fully withdrawn its troops.
But Zelensky disputed the Russian announcement, saying some soldiers remained in the city.
The Ukrainian president addressed the opposition forces, saying: “Russian soldiers, mercenaries and collaborators who stayed behind” in Kherson must be handed over to Ukrainian captivity.
“We guarantee that he will be treated according to the law and international standards,” Zelensky said, adding that “voluntary Ukrainian captivity is the only option for all occupiers.”
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The loss of Kherson is the latest in a series of defeats for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kherson is in one of four regions that Putin announced Russia had annexed in late September after referendums were held in those regions. The referendums were considered “fake” by the international community. Similarly, the annexations were condemned by Ukrainian allies.
Similarly, Moscow withdrew its forces from the city of Liman in the annexed Donetsk region, just one day after Putin formally annexed the territories.
