Kherson Oblast

Kherson Oblast, at the mouth of the Dnieper where it meets the Black Sea, is Ukrainian under international law, but its territory on the left bank of the Dnieper has been occupied by Russia since 2022. The city of Kherson was liberated in November 2022 but remains under constant shelling. Travel to Kherson is not possible; a travel warning is in effect. This profile describes a region that was long known for its melons, steppe, and beaches.

City and River

Kherson was founded in 1778 by Grigory Potemkin as a fortress and shipyard; the first ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were launched here. St. Catherine's Cathedral holds Potemkin's tomb, and the center has neoclassical buildings and a riverside promenade along the Dnieper. The river now forms the front line: occupied towns such as Oleshky and Hola Prystan lie on the opposite bank. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023 caused devastating flooding downstream.

Steppe and Coast

Most of the oblast is flat steppe. The Askania-Nova biosphere reserve, founded by the German-descended landowner Friedrich Falz-Fein, protects one of the last untouched feather-grass steppes in Europe, home to Przewalski's horses, zebras, and antelopes. The Oleshky Sands are considered the largest sand desert in Europe. On the coast, with places such as Skadovsk, Salyznyi Port, and the Arabat Spit, many Ukrainians used to spend their summer vacations. The lower Dnieper, with its floodplain forests and islands known as the Plavni, was a popular spot for anglers. All of these areas are currently occupied.

The coastal community of Bekhtery, with its pine forests along the estuary, used to be a quiet beach area for families. The island of Dzharylhach, with its dunes, salt lakes, deer, and mouflons, was also one of the region's natural attractions.

Agriculture and the Situation Today

Thanks to irrigation from the Kakhovka Reservoir, the oblast was a breadbasket: tomatoes, grapes, and above all watermelons from Kherson were famous across the country. With the loss of the reservoir and the fighting, large parts of the farmland have been destroyed and fields mined. The city of Kherson is under severe threat from drone and artillery attacks, and many residents have fled. A travel warning is in effect for the entire oblast.