Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the liberation of Kherson marks the "beginning of the end" of the war with Russia.
He made the remarks on a visit in Kherson on Monday.
During his visit Zelensky sang the Ukrainian national anthem as the country's flag was hoisted above the main administrative building.
He thanked NATO and other allies for their support, adding that high mobility artillery rocket systems (Himars) from the United States had made a big difference.
Ukraine is "moving forward" and ready for peace, he told soldiers, reports BBC.
Losing the southern city was 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.
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.
Earlier at a ceremony in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson was "non-negotiable". Russia still occupies the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, seized in 2014.
In recent weeks Ukraine has made gains in the south of the country, advancing towards Kherson and putting Russian forces under increasing pressure.
On Friday last, Russian forces withdrew and Ukrainian troops entered in Kherson.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
