Ukrainian troops greeted with joy in Kherson city centre

Ukrainian troops were greeted by joyous residents in the centre of Kherson on Friday (November 11) after Russia abandoned the only regional capital it had captured since its invasion in February.

Video obtained by Reuters and released on Friday showed people cheering and celebrating Ukrainian soldiers in Kherson's Freedom Square.

Reuters was able to confirm the location of the video from the buildings which match file and satellite photography of the area. Reuters was not able to confirm the date the video was filmed.

Russia said it had completed the pullout across the Dnipro River without losing a single soldier, but Ukrainians painted a picture of a chaotic retreat, with Russian troops ditching their uniforms or drowning while trying to escape.

Video footage circulating on the internet showed dozens of Ukrainians cheering and chanting victory slogans in Kherson's central square, where the apparent first Ukrainian troops to arrive snapped selfies in the crowd.

Two men lifted a female soldier on their shoulders and tossed her into the air. Some residents wrapped themselves in Ukrainian flags. One man was weeping with joy.

Ukraine's defence intelligence agency said Kherson was returning to Ukrainian control and ordered any remaining Russian troops to surrender to Ukrainian forces entering the city.

Reuters could not immediately verify the full extent of the Ukrainian advance or the fate of any Russian soldiers left behind as Moscow rushed to pull thousands of troops across the wide Dnipro River.