The Occupation of Kherson
- Description:
- Unexploded ordnance, Kherson, Ukraine The description on the image reads, "The southern city of Kherson endured eight months of Russian occupation. A local resident provides testimony about this period: "In March, a living nightmare unfolded in my hometown of Kherson. Fighter jets soared overhead, tanks and heavy weaponry rumbled through the streets, and houses were engulfed in flames. People were ruthlessly shot while inside their cars. For a week, we dared not venture outside. And when we finally mustered the courage to step out, we had to ensure that our phones bore no trace of Ukrainian symbols. The occupiers conducted random checks at checkpoints, inspecting cars and scrutinizing the phones of passersby. This harrowing ordeal persisted for eight months - eight agonizing months. As our protests against the occupiers grew, they became increasingly irritated. They resorted to callous acts, lobbing grenades into the crowd. The attempt to escape the city ended in failure. We encountered 35 roadblocks, each one subjecting us to thorough searches of our belongings. We spent six days taking refuge in a field beside the highway controlled by the occupiers. Yet, all our efforts were in vain - they denied us passage and prevented our exit." Reuse permission: Professor Anasstasia Fedyk, UC Berkeley, and the AI for Good Foundation.
- Attribution:
- ©Svidok-Professor Anasstasia Fedyk-UC berkeley
- Date:
- 02-10-2024