Inside Ukraine’s heroic struggle to reclaim Kherson after becoming first major city captured by Putin

THE Ukrainian port of Kherson was the first major city to be captured by Vladimir Putin. But in the past 48 hours home forces have launched a heroic retaliation that symbolises the spirit of their nation. AFPKherson airbase after an alleged airstrike against Russian forces occupying the base[/caption] ReutersDemonstrators in Kherson Russian troops throw stun grenades as they protest[/caption] And Markian Lubkivskyi, an adviser to the Ukrainian defence minister, said yesterday: “I believe that today the city will be fully under the control of Ukrainian armed forces. “We have finished the operation in the Kyiv region so other armed forces are now focused on the southern part, trying to free Kherson and some other Ukrainian cities.” Kherson fell to the Russians on March 2 but its people have been protesting daily in the city’s central Liberty Square. On Monday, a student in her early 20s was there amid a peaceful protest when a stun grenade exploded and there was gunfire. Read more on Ukraine LINE OF FIRE Scary moment Sky News crew come under Russian artillery fire & dive for cover STANDING TOGETHER Thousands march through London in sea of blue and yellow for Ukraine Capturing it on video, she said: “Residents had been chanting, ‘Go home’.“People fled. There were clouds of smoke, “I found it difficult to breathe and ran for my life.” A video obtained by CNN later showed a pensioner bleeding from a leg wound. But a second resident said the protesters were back to confront the Russians the next day. Most read in The Sun it's over! Katie Price and Carl Woods SPLIT and call off wedding 'we have to leave' BBC Breakfast pulled off air causing panic as fire alarm sounds 'DEVASTATED' Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins dies aged 50 CORRIED AWAY Coronation Street star Kel Allen quits after two years playing Laura Neelan DON'T BE FOOLED 3-bedroom house for sale for £80,000, but you better be prepared for inside EVIL EastEnders' Billy Mitchell exposed as a child abuser in horrifying forgotten storyline Videos showed Russian forces responding with tear gas ­grenades and warning shots. Meanwhile a leaked letter from an FSB spy agency whistleblower has claimed the residents’ defiance will lead to them being kidnapped and taken into Russia. Read More on The Sun it's over! Katie Price and Carl Woods SPLIT and call off wedding PARK STRIFE I was charged £100 despite parking inside lines - don't make the mistake I did Brave Nadya, a shop worker also in her 20s, told me: “I’m not leaving. We are strong ­people and we’re becoming stronger. I’m staying here to show Kherson is Ukrainian.” The courageous women — like their city — remain unbowed. Markian Lubkivskyi, an adviser to the Ukrainian defence minister, said: ‘I believe that today the city will be fully under the control of Ukrainian armed forces’ We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.