Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled east of the country for the first time since the Russian invasion began on Sunday towards the city of Kharkiv, where Russian forces have gradually retreated in recent weeks to focus on other fields.
2229 houses were destroyed in Kharkiv and the region. We will restore, build and bring back life. In Kharkiv and all other towns and villages where evil camehe told the Telegram, whose message was accompanied by a video of his visit.
The photos show him examining the wreckage and wrecked vehicles on the side of the road, wearing a khaki outfit and bulletproof vest, accompanied by collaborators and armed soldiers.
” In this war, the conquerors try to achieve any result. But they have probably understood for a long time that we will defend our land until the end. They have no chance. We will fight and we will win. “
The President took advantage of this visit to honor and give awards to the Ukrainian soldiers.
I want to thank each and every one of you for your service. You are risking your life for all of us and for our state. Thanks for defending the independence of Ukraine. Take care of yourself ! said Zelensky, according to statements reported by the presidency.
Almost daily bombed since the Russian invasion began on February 24, Kharkiv, the country’s second city, has been experiencing a respite for weeks after a Ukrainian counter-offensive that succeeded in withdrawing Russian troops . The eastern part of the city, however, remains the target of occasional bombing.
A radar station in the Kharkiv region has also been targeted by an attack in the past 24 hours, according to a statement released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on Sunday morning.
The statement also states that the Russian army was destroyed with long-range high-precision missiles a huge arsenal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Dnipropetrovsk region, in addition to targeting a Ukrainian air defense system near Mykolayevka and five ammunition depots near Sievierodonetsk.
The Russian noose is tightening in the Donbass
The largest city still under Ukrainian control in the Donbass region has also been the scene of more intense fighting.
Russia has done everything possible to occupy Sievierodonetsk or prevent any communication between the region and Ukrainesaid Saturday night in his Telegram account Sergeii Gaïdaï, the governor of the Lugansk region. The shooting was so intense that the number of victims or the damage could not be assessedhe said, but cited the deaths of two people on Saturday and the destruction of 13 buildings.
The continuous shelling greatly complicating the city’s supply – especially of drinking water -, which has been without electricity for more than two weeks, he wrote Saturday night in his Telegram account. The activity of humanitarian aid center of the city was suspended, he said.
The Russians had brought many means to attack the city, but it was not yet possibleassured for his part the mayor of Sievierodonetsk, Olexander Stryuk. We think the city will fight backhe insisted.
Meanwhile, the head of the Russian republic of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov told the Telegram on Saturday night that Sievierodonetsk is under our full control. […] The city was liberated.
Meanwhile, police reported great destruction in Lysychansk, twin town of Sievierodonetsk located on the other side of the Siversky Donets river. Governor Gaïdaï described the situation greatly aggravated.
A Russian shell fell on an apartment building, a girl died on the spot and four people were hospitalized, he said. The previous day was difficult in the city, according to Mr. Gaïdaï, which aroused a damaged cinema and 22 damaged buildings.
Capture of the City of Lyman
A little further west, the Russian Ministry of Defense on Saturday confirmed the takeover of the main locality of Lyman, opening the way to the main cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, in the Donbass.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian army conceded that the regrouping of Russian forces is getting stronger in this sector.
Yesterday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the situation in this region of Donbass [était] very difficult, with intensive artillery and missile strikes. But he felt that if the occupiers thought that Lyman and Sievierodonetsk would be theirs, they were mistaken. Donbass will be Ukrainian.
After unsuccessful offensives in kyiv and Kharkiv at the start of the war, Russian forces focused on eastern Ukraine, with the stated goal of completely seizing Donbass, which has been partially controlled since 2014 by separatists. pro-Russians supported by Moscow.
Source: Radio-Canada
