Northeast Ukraine celebrates return of residents after Russian defeat

Ukrainian forces penetrated deeper into territory seized by fleeing Russian troops on Monday, as gleeful residents returned to former frontline villages and Moscow grappled with the fallout from the collapse of its occupying force in northeastern Ukraine.

Ukraine’s General Staff said on Monday its troops had recaptured more than 20 towns and villages in the previous day alone, after Russia acknowledged it was abandoning Izium, its main stronghold in northeastern Ukraine.

“People are crying, people are happy, of course. How could they not be happy!” said 76-year-old retired English teacher Zoya, north of Kharkiv, in the village of Zolochiv, 18 km from the Russian border, crying as she described the months she spent sheltered in the basement.

Nastya, 28, had fled the village in April but returned last week after news of Ukrainian advances: “I think everyone is in a good mood! It’s all over now. At least we hope it’s all over,” she said, standing in line to buy groceries with two small children.

Further north, Ukrainian troops moved to Udi, a village in what was a no-man’s land closer to the border.

Returning soldiers said it was still unsafe, littered with landmines, grenades and weapons left behind by fleeing Russian troops, with stray animals roaming around.

In what remained of Russian-held territory in the Kharkiv region, Vitaly Ganchev, the head of the Russian-sworn occupation of Moscow, acknowledged that Ukrainian troops had invaded the border.

Ganchev, who ordered the complete evacuation of civilians from Russian-controlled parts of the province, told Rossiya-24 state television that about 5,000 civilians had fled to Russia, but the border was now closed.

“The situation is getting more difficult by the hour,” he said.