Russian propaganda continues to invent absurd narratives about Kherson and the Kherson region, attempting to hide its own crimes and justify the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Last week Kremlin media issued several “sensations” at once — from fakes about the disruption of the heating season to the fabricated escape of regional leadership and a distorted account of the battle in Buzkovy Park.
Disruption of the heating season in Kherson
The occupiers have been trying for several years in a row to disrupt the heating season on the right bank of the Kherson region. To this end, they deliberately strike boiler houses, heating mains, and municipal workers. These shellings are not hidden; on the contrary — the Russians boast about them. Although, as it turned out, there are unique people in the swamps who are ready to blame anyone for Kherson’s heating problems except their compatriots. For example, the so-called “senator from the Kherson region” Igor Kastyukevich believes that the troubles for the regional center are caused not by Russians, but by Hollywood stars, in particular Angelina Jolie.
“Against the backdrop of constant trips to Kherson by any Hollywood stars and Zelensky, the real situation and truth about what is happening there, and Kyiv’s true attitude toward its citizens, are revealed… But look at how they treat Kherson and Kherson residents! They starve people of food and heat in order to then photograph and prepare another fake that Russia drove them to this,” Kastyukevich says.
Regarding Angelina Jolie, the “senator” accuses her of keeping silent about the fact that “evil Banderites” are humiliating Kherson residents by forcing them to spend the winter without heating.
A few days after the publication of this nonsense on enemy resources, the Russians demonstrated how they really “care” for the population of the right-bank Kherson region, effectively destroying the CHP in the regional center. As a result of massive shelling, half of Kherson residents were left without heat, even though the heating season in the city had already started.
But even after the CHP was destroyed, the city is not “freezing,” as the occupiers dream, and certainly not “starving,” as Kastyukevich claims. Local authorities are looking for alternative heating options for those homes left without heating. At the same time, negotiations are underway with international partners to provide Kherson residents with electric or gas heaters. Condominium association heads are already collecting information on needs by apartment.
Resilience Points are also operating where people can warm up. In total their number in the Kherson region is 186. If necessary, heating points will be set up even in the simplest shelter premises in Kherson. Work continues on their inspection and possible equipping with diesel heaters.
Yaroslav Shanko is preparing to flee Ukraine
The head of the Kherson City Military Administration, Yaroslav Shanko, is planning to flee abroad together with the entire administration apparatus. He brought his family to Europe and is packing his suitcases. Well, that’s what Russian propagandists say, and they don’t lie!
A video allegedly of a conversation among Kherson officials discussing prospects of fleeing appeared on Russian resources.
“This is between us, while there’s no broadcast. Someone whispered to me that that’s it, we have to get out. Yaroslav Viktorovych [Shanko – head of the administration] has already sent his family to Poland. So all the documents into the fireplace, and — forward with a song,” says the official on the “video evidence.”
As it turned out, the audio with the corresponding text was simply overlaid onto footage of a meeting of officials of the Dolyna City Council in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Quite unexpected, right?
Yaroslav Shanko himself commented on the fake created by the Russians on his social media pages: “I am here every day. My family is in Ukraine. My team and I are working for victory and will continue to work until we liberate our entire country. We will not leave the city while there is at least one person here who needs protection. Our job is to defend Kherson and hold the community.” There is not much to add here.
Battle in Buzkovy Park
Kremlin mouthpieces continue to spread made-up stories, turning their media into a factory for creating a parallel reality. Russian propagandists, who for years have justified the crimes of their army, this time accused the Ukrainians of the tragedy in Kherson’s Buzkovy Park. According to their new “version,” the defenders of Kherson in March 2022 were allegedly shot not by Russian troops, but by some mythical “Banderites.”
“The Russian-speaking residents of Kherson who survived the real occupation by Banderites in 2022–2025 (tortures, kidnappings, shootings of cars on the roads, killings in Buzkovy Park) now simply survive in shelters and rented apartments,” the Russians note.
At the same time Russian propaganda is trying to shift responsibility for the decrease in Kherson’s population onto Ukraine. They cite not the daily Russian shelling as the reason, but the “actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” Such logic provokes only laughter.
But the truth about the events in Buzkovy Park cannot be hidden. On March 1, 2022 it was there that fighters of the 194th Bilozerka Battalion of the 124th Territorial Defense Brigade fought their battle. Russian forces advanced on them with tanks and IFVs. The Ukrainian defenders had only small arms, a few assault rifles, grenades, grenade launchers and Molotov cocktails. That day at least 24 Kherson defenders were killed. This battle became a symbol of the courage and self-sacrifice of Kherson residents, who were the first to meet the enemy while having far fewer forces and weapons.
So the stories about “Banderites” who allegedly shot territorial defense fighters are not just lies. This is a cynical attempt by the occupiers to erase their own crimes and devalue the feat of those who gave their lives defending Kherson.