Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky paid a surprise visit to the front, specifically to the southern region of Zaporizhia, which is controlled mostly by Russian troops.
“Zaporizhia region. Frontline positions. I am honored to be here today, together with our military. I am grateful to each of our soldiers for defending Ukraine, our sovereignty, our cities and our children. Definitely, we will win “, wrote the Ukrainian leader on Telegram.
The visit to the southern front came five days after the Ukrainian president visited his army positions in the vicinity of the besieged city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region.
Precisely, the commander of the Ukrainian land forces, Oleksandr Sirskyi, was also in Bakhmut, who affirmed today that the defense of the town, in which there are around 3,000 civilians, is a “military necessity”.
“We are considering all possible options for the development of events, and we will act in accordance with the current situation,” he said in response to rumors of the possible withdrawal and implying that for the moment the Ukrainian high command has decided to maintain the defense of Bakhmut.
Still, Ukraine acknowledged mounting Russian pressure on Avdiivka, another of the toughest battlegrounds in Donbas, by announcing today the evacuation of local officials.
“Avdiivka is looking more and more like a place from a post-apocalyptic movie,” acknowledged Vitaly Barabash, head of the local military administration.
The Ukrainian authorities have been reporting for several days the intensification of the fighting in Avdiivka, which is becoming “the second Bakhmut”, they warn.
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