From Reuters:
“Ukraine's Zelenskiy praises 'advances' after visiting front
sectors”
(Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy awards a Ukrainian
service member as he visits a position near the front line, amid Russia's
attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 26, 2023.)
President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy praised Ukrainian troops for advancing "in all sectors" on
Monday after spending the day posing with and handing awards to front-line
soldiers in the east and south of the country. "Today in all sectors, our
soldiers made advances. It is a happy day," Zelenskiy said in his nightly
video address, delivered from a train after visiting two frontline areas. The
president's office posted four videos of Zelenskiy's journey, which he said
covered "hundreds of kilometres" and appeared to present encounters
in at least three locations.
One site was in eastern Donetsk region, a focal point in the
16-month-old conflict; one was located in what was described as the Berdiansk
sector in the south -- in areas where Ukrainian forces have captured villages;
and another was also on the southern front, further to the west. In the last of
the videos, Zelenskiy said he had seen "various brigades, all different
and absolutely heroic people. "Different but with one goal -- victory over
the Raschists," he said, in a derogatory reference to Russian soldiers.
(Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy poses for a picture
with Ukrainian service members as he visits a position near the front line,
amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 26, 2023.)
The visit to Donetsk region, according to the president's
office, involved the Khortytsia operational-strategic group, including soldiers
who have fought Russian troops in the Bakhmut sector, where battles have been
intense. The first video showed Zelenskiy handing out awards at an undisclosed
indoor location and poring over maps with Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of
Ukraine's ground forces. "I have the honour to be here today, talk to the
commander and first of all thank you, thank you for protecting our country,
sovereignty, our families, children, Ukraine," Zelenskiy said. A second
video showed Zelenskiy at a fuel station. Dressed in his trademark military
khaki T-shirt, he stood alongside troops in a queue at a counter and posed for
photos with the soldiers and women working there. In the third video, Zelenskiy
hands out awards, poses with soldiers and again examines maps with officers.
Loud booms resound at least twice during the video. Deputy Defence Minister
Hanna Maliar said on Monday that Ukrainian forces had regained control over
Rivnopil, a village west of a cluster of settlements recaptured in offensive
operations. The village appeared to be the ninth retaken by Ukraine this month.
Ukraine says it has been making advances since launching a counteroffensive,
but Russian forces still hold swathes of Ukrainian territory following their
invasion in February 2022.
^ It still amazes me what a great and hands-on President/Leader
Zelenskyy is. ^
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