Zelenskiy visits troops in the northeast, holds security meetings

Published October 03,2023

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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday mentioned the battlefield scenario with commanders in Ukraine’s northeast, the place he visited troops on one of many hottest fronts of the conflict with Russia.

In his nightly video handle, Zelenskiy mentioned he had been close to Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis, and heard from the commander of Ukraine’s floor forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, on defence within the space and on offensive actions additional south, close to Bakhmut.

“It is extremely important that Kharkiv, despite everything, not only holds on, but helps to keep our entire east strong,” Zelenskiy mentioned.

In a put up on X, previously generally known as Twitter, the president additionally mentioned he met brigades preventing close to the northeastern cities of Kupiansk and Lyman, recaptured by Ukrainian forces late final 12 months. The space has been topic to Russian assaults in current months.

“We met with brigade and battalion commanders to discuss the battlefield situation, pressing issues, and needs,” he mentioned. Photos confirmed him assembly troopers in a poorly lighted room.

The president mentioned preparation for winter in Kharkiv as Ukraine expects an escalation of Russia’s strikes on power infrastructure. Kharkiv, a significant industrial centre, has not fallen into Russian arms because the Kremlin invasion in February 2022.

Zelenskiy, who has usually visited troops, additionally handed out awards and urged troops to maintain their motivation excessive.

The president’s workplace additionally posted video footage displaying Zelenskiy shaking arms with troops, inspecting gear equipped by Western nations, sitting at a protracted desk with commanders and being briefed by an officer standing in entrance of a map.

Since Kyiv started a counteroffensive within the east and south 4 months in the past, Ukrainian troops have made solely gradual beneficial properties, however Zelenskiy has rejected overseas criticism that the advance has been marred by poor army technique.