Ukraine has been talking for weeks about a counteroffensive against Russian forces in the southern city of Kherson. Without saying so explicitly, Ukrainian attacks suggested an operation is underway.
Vitaliy is a 22-year-old Ukrainian college student living in occupied Kherson. He had been sending NPR voice memos for months describing life in the city. Then he decided to leave.
Ukrainian officials have vowed to retake the strategic city of Kherson. But the battlefield "gray zone," spanning more than 100 miles, is confusing — and danger can come in many forms.
Ukraine lost territory to Russia in the southern Kherson region early in the war. Residents fleeing rural villages there describe their desperation under Russian military control.