The anniversary of the liberation will become Kherson City Day starting in 2027

In Kherson, starting in 2027, City Day will be celebrated on the anniversary of the city’s liberation from Russian occupation. The change of date and the establishment of a day to honor its defenders were announced on facebook.com by Yaroslav Shanko, head of the Kherson City Military Administration.

The decision followed a public consultation held from October 29 to November 12. The vote was organized online so that residents who had left the city because of Russian shelling could take part as well. A total of 2,066 Kherson residents shared their views.

The survey results established the following dates:

• November 11 — City Day. This proposal was supported by 94% of participants;
• March 1 — Kherson Defenders’ Remembrance Day. 98% of respondents voted to establish it.

As Yaroslav Shanko explained, the day of remembrance is intended to honor those who came to the city’s defense at the start of the full-scale invasion. They include territorial defense fighters who faced overwhelming odds in Lilac Park, as well as service members who continue to defend Ukraine in the ranks of the Defense Forces.

We previously reported:

• Two years since Kherson’s liberation: a hero city in a free Ukraine, despite the attacks
• A memorial plaque unveiled in Kherson for fighters killed during the city’s occupation by the Russian army
• “The advance was very rapid,” — Mykolaiv volunteer on the liberation of Kherson
• “A historic day: we are bringing Kherson back,” — Zelensky
• President Zelensky establishes Remembrance Day for defenders who died for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty