The news that Ukrainian soldiers have arrived in the city of Kherson caused a rare outburst of joy in Kiev and other major Ukrainian cities. Horn concerts, merry dancing and plenty of sparkling wine were on the Maidan, Independence Square, on Friday night. Watermelons – a very special symbol of victory – can also be seen again and again.
Videos circulated on social networks over the weekend show a Ukrainian soldier holding a watermelon and being euphorically cheered by a crowd. A photo showing a Ukrainian flag on top of a giant melon statue was also widely shared. Even high-ranking politicians, such as the head of Ukraine’s presidential office in Kiev, Andriy Yermak, are adding melon emojis to their communications about Kherson these days. Several Ukrainian companies also quickly integrated the melon into their corporate logo. And the Ukrainian postal service announced that on the occasion of the victory in Kherson it would print a commemorative stamp – with a piece of watermelon as the motif.
Why the melon is so important
The background is as follows: The Kherson region with its warm summers is known for its particularly tasty watermelons. The fact that the popular fruit fell into the hands of the Russian occupiers last season also hurt the Ukrainians financially, because the fruit is an important trade product.
Much of the Kherson region is still in Russian hands
After successful Ukrainian counter-offensives, Russian troops gave up all places northwest of the Dnipro River last week. The Russians still control much of the Kherson region, which is also on the other side of the river. But the victory over the regional capital of the same name is symbolic for the Ukrainians to reconquer the whole region – and thus also the melon fields.
Despite the festive mood, Ukrainian authorities warned the civilian population that numerous Russian booby traps could still be hidden in residential buildings and other buildings. In Kiev, however, such warnings played no role. Ukrainians fleeing Kherson from the Russian occupiers also celebrated in front of the Victory Column, which commemorates independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Together they sang the Ukrainian national anthem and wiped away tears of joy. And people kept calling out the numbers of the Ukrainian army brigades, which were the first to capture Kherson after nine months of Russian occupation.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
