Ukraine war: Russia ‘deliberately’ destroyed Kherson infrastructure – Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian troops of destroying “critical infrastructure” during their withdrawal from the city of Kherson.

Kyiv’s forces re-entered Kherson- the only major Ukrainian city to fall to Russian forces – last week.

But in a nightly address, Mr Zelensky said Moscow’s forces had mined “all important objects” in the region as they retreated.

The comments came ahead of his address to the G-20 summit of world leaders.

“This is what the Russian flag means – complete desolation,” Mr Zelensky said. “There is no electricity, no communication, no internet, no television. The occupiers destroyed everything themselves – on purpose. This is their special operation.”

“On the eve of winter, the Russian occupiers destroyed absolutely all critical infrastructure for the people. Absolutely all important objects in the city and region are mined,” he added.

In a visit to the city on Monday, Mr Zelensky said that Ukraine is “moving forward”.

Kherson was captured in March, weeks after the invasion began. The region was then one of four to be illegally annexed after self-styled referendums in September.

Losing the southern city is a major setback for Russia – though Moscow insists it remains Russian territory. Russia declared it the centre of the illegally annexed Kherson region, and it was the only regional capital to be occupied since the invasion.

Pro-Russian billboards on the drive in to the city – along with periodic crumps of artillery – act as a reminder that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s men have not left completely, though.

At a ceremony in Moscow, Putin said the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson was “non-negotiable”. Russia still occupies the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, seized by Russian-backed separatists in 2014.

The invasion has left Russia internationally isolated – a fact underlined on Monday by a UN General Assembly resolution calling for Russia to be held accountable over Ukraine.

It was supported by 94 of the assembly’s 193 members and is not binding, but carries political weight.

It said Russia “must bear the legal consequences of all of its internationally wrongful acts, including making reparation for the injury, including any damage, caused by such acts”. Four previous UN resolutions have also criticised Russia’s invasion.

In recent weeks Ukraine has made gains in the south of the country, driving towards Kherson and putting Russian forces under increasing pressure.

Last week, Russian forces withdrew and Ukrainian troops entered the city on Friday.

Locals were seen celebrating, some reuniting with loved ones they had not seen for months. The mood in the city was one of jubilation and relief, but also trepidation, the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen reports.

Echoing that caution was Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who warned it would be a “mistake” to “underestimate Russia”.

“The coming months will be difficult,” he told Dutch government officials. “Putin’s aim is to leave Ukraine cold and dark this winter. So we must stay the course.