Russians Don’t Come Back for Chocolate
In the tiny Ukrainian hamlet of BLAHODATNE, the Russian troops found their way back out the same way they’d snuck in, simply vanishing under a blanket of darkness. The whole village was treated like a secret hide‑and‑seek, only this time everyone had a “banana peel” exit path across the Dnipro River.
The “Everyone Just Is” Moment
After eight months of occupation, the village had shrunk to a handful of hearts. When Ukraine’s forces finally walked in on Thursday (Nov 10), it was an almost so‑close‑to‑no‑one situation, sparking tears and cheers like a grand finale at a quiet concert.
- • 81‑year‑old Halyna swore she’d slept two nights in peace.
- • 43‑year‑old Serhii noted the retreat was as quiet as a cat in a cat‑nip factory.
- • Residents flagged worst memories – a neighbour shot in a hurry, three folks “tucked away” by the occupiers and vanished.
“No Chat, Just Exit”
Serhii, who survived in Blahodatne (down from a pre‑war 1,000) told us, “They left silently. They didn’t even speak with each other,” and the rumor mill began spinning. It felt just like some secret club declaring their flight without shouting anything.
Halyna’s Grit
Picture a grumpy old lady, a rusty bicycle, and a chill tear remover. She said, “There was shooting all the time from three directions. But they left two nights ago. Now they need to leave Kherson.”
While the Russian defense ministry kept mum on the allegations (and Reuters had no way to double‑check every claim), the local chorus is louder than any official silence.
Victory Dance in Kherson
Up five miles from Blahodatne, the strategic port city of Kherson was about to catch the final thrill of “cops this place back.” Video footage – verified by Reuters – flashed the crowd dancing with joy, chanting “Victory!” as Ukrainian troops planted their boots and captured selfies, pretending the whole flock was their grand masterpiece.
One shout from the locals: “Tell them if they ever come back we’ll have a reception with chocolate, because we’re finally at peace!” And so the village, now buzzed with release and a dash of humor, reclaims the spotlight it did before the Feb 24 invasion snowed in.
Looting, death, disappearances
<img alt="" data-caption="Nina Stovba reacts as she stands inside a house of her neighbour rubbered by Russian soldiers and damaged by a military strike in the village of Blahodatne, retaken by the Ukrainian Armed Forces a day ago, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson region, Ukraine, on Nov 11.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”15e2af57-92e1-4fee-bf98-0675e2eb2fd4″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20221211_nina_stovba_reuters.jpeg”/>
Russian Occupation in Blahodatne: Stories of Looting and Loss
What the Villagers Reported
Around a hundred Russian troops apparently took up residence in Blahodatne. When they arrived, locals warned that the Russians were on a mission to hunt down anyone linked to groups the Kremlin has painted as “nationalists.” The soldiers went even further— demanding every mobile phone in the neighborhood be surrendered.
During their stay, the troops would break into empty houses and run off with all the high‑value items: TVs, stoves and even refrigerators. One neighbor, Kalko, even showed Reuters a small window that was smashed by a rifle butt to get in. Inside, the apartment was a scene from a disaster movie: piles of clothes, broken toys, and cabinets whose doors had been completely torn off.
“Every home that wasn’t occupied— they took everything worth a price,” he said, wiping a tear that glistened.
Personal Tragedies
Seventy‑three‑year‑old Mykhailo Hodykin was left with a horrible memory: Russians shot his 46‑year‑old neighbor, Vadik Yevchen, in March when the man strolled towards the Russian positions near the trees. They simply dumped Vadik’s body in his backyard for locals to bury.
Two young men, Vitaliy Siroha and Yura Karpinskiy, vanished after being arrested around the same time. The Russians also seized the niece of one villager who was wounded by a shell. Her fate is still unknown.
From “Referendum” to Real‑World Occupation
Moscow claimed the area was “part of Russia” after holding what it called referendums in Kherson and three other regions in September—a move Kyiv and Western governments slammed as illegal and coercive.
Ukrainian Counter‑Operations
Earlier this week, Ukrainian soldiers began taking back positions dug by the Russians along the track leading into the village from the highway that heads south to Kherson. At Blahodatne’s entrance, troops found a large stockpile of 120 mm mortar shells, some with fuses still screwed into their fuses— abandoned in a rickety warehouse.
The true picture of the village’s current predicament is tough to parse, but the stories drop in a mix of pain, resilience and a touch of dark humor—the kind you might hear under a coffee mug on a cramped camp kitchen table.
