President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a working visit to Kherson on Tuesday, marking three years since Ukrainian forces retook the city from Russian occupation. The president met with local officials, military leaders, and units from Ukraine’s drone forces to review measures for defending the city, which remains under constant threat from Russian drone attacks.
Kherson sits on the west bank of the Dnipro River and was occupied by Russian forces from March to November 2022. Since its liberation, the city has faced frequent Russian strikes, particularly from small drones targeting infrastructure and hunting civilians in what officials describe as Russian “human safari” tactics.
Zelenskyy’s visit highlighted plans to bolster the city’s defenses, including expanding capabilities of drone units like the “Ptakhy Madyara” and improving protection of key roads, logistics hubs, and energy systems.
Strategically located near the Dnipro crossing to Russian-occupied territory, Kherson serves as a gateway to southern Ukraine and a critical hub for logistics and regional administration. Its proximity to Russian positions makes it a high-priority target for attacks, especially drone and artillery strikes.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need to prepare Kherson for the ongoing threat, noting that the city experiences thousands of drone strikes each month. He directed additional resources to frontline units and security services, ensuring that both military and civilian infrastructure are better protected against Russian aggression.
Beyond military measures, Zelenskyy reviewed requests from the Kherson regional administration for civilian needs, ranging from education and social programs to energy and equipment for public services.
The visit underscored Kyiv’s dual focus on reinforcing security while sustaining everyday life in a frontline city still within reach of Russian forces.
