Oleksandr Cheremisin and Halyna Mykhailenko presented a book about the heroic resistance of the people of Kherson
A presentation of the book *Kherson: The Path of Patriots* took place at Kherson State University; the book is dedicated to the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion, the defense of Kherson, and the people who rose to defend their native city
The event was attended by KSU Rector Oleksandr Spivakovskyi, members of the university community, students and teachers from educational institutions, and staff from libraries, museums, and archives.
The book is based on oral history methodology, combining scholarly analysis with vivid accounts from direct eyewitnesses of the events of 2022. The authors—historians from Kherson State University, Professor Oleksandr Cheremisin and Associate Professor Halyna Mykhailenko—have compiled the recollections of Kherson region residents, combatants, volunteers, clergy, members of the Kherson Territorial Defense, and the families of those who served.
The publication explores stories of military and civilian resistance, heroism, self-sacrifice, and human loss. Particular attention is given to the events near the Antonivka Bridge, the tragedy at Lilac Park (Buzkovyi Park), the battle for the Scientific Lyceum, and the activities of the Territorial Defense and the volunteer movement. A distinct focus of the research is the formation of regional identity amidst the war and the preservation of the memory of Ukraine’s fallen defenders. The work frames the experience of the Kherson region not merely as a piece of local history, but as a significant component of the broader national history of the Russo-Ukrainian War.
The authors of the book express their sincere gratitude to all the respondents who entrusted them with their memories, helping to preserve the documentary truth regarding the resistance in Kherson. Special thanks go to Oleksandr Spivakovsky, Rector of Kherson State University (KSU), for his support of the publication. The authors also extend their appreciation to the reviewers: Viktoriia Konstantinova, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Professor in the Department of History and Philosophy at Berdiansk State Pedagogical University; and Serhii Kornovenko, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Professor in the Department of Archaeology and Special Historical Disciplines at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy.
The presentation of the book marks a significant milestone in preserving the historical memory of Kherson’s heroic resistance. Behind every account lies a human life, the hardships endured, and a conscious choice to defend one’s home city. Preserving these stories contributes to documenting the truth about the war and honoring those who gave their lives for Ukraine.
This research was conducted as part of a scholarly project within the Department of History, Archaeology, and Teaching Methodology—part of KSU’s Faculty of Pedagogy, Psychology, and Social Work—titled "The Occupation and Liberation of Kherson: The Antonivskyi Bridge, the Lilac Grove, and the Heroism of Civilian Resistance." The project was initiated by the university’s rector, Oleksandr Spivakovsky.
An electronic version of the book is now available in the KSU institutional repository
https://ekhsuir.kspu.edu/items/257643ce-ac0e-41a2-9d7b-44e81ee195aa