President Volodymyr Zelensky visited soldiers in the Zaporizhzhia region near the front line in eastern Ukraine on Sunday 5 May. (Ukrainian presidential press service via The New York Times)
the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskymet with soldiers and distributed military decorations near the front line in the eastern part of the country, on a visit that highlights his role as a wartime leader and aims to boost morale.
Sunday’s trip was preemptively shrouded in secrecy and announced in statements released at the end of that day and early Monday morning.
He traveled to the frontline city of Lysychansk, perhaps the closest he has come to actively fight in the east since it started war.
A man moves items from a damaged shop after a military attack on a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine, June 7, 2022. REUTERS / Ivan Alvarado
It is a dangerous journey to reach Lysychansk.
A highway and several secondary roads cut through agricultural land marked by artillery craters.
Along the way, an oil refinery that has been on fire for weeks smolders and spews smoke.
On the side of the streets are the burnt orange skins of cars that didn’t survive, pushed aside to make way for others trying to pass.
Officials offered some details on how Zelenskyy got to the city, which was bombed by artillery and is in danger of being encircled by Russian forces in one of the hottest parts of the front line.
Ukrainian supply lines in the area, along roads that cross the plains and are exposed to nearby Russian troops, are often attacked.
“I’m proud of all the people I met, I shook hands, “Zelensky said in a video speech describing his visit.
He also offered a cryptic statement of support, saying:
“We brought something to the military. I will not talk about it in detail. “
It is unclear whether the comment referred to front row deliveries western weapons newcomer, who according to the soldiers is absolutely necessary to match the fight against the best armed Russian forces.
The visit was only the second official trip for Zelensky, who shed light on his country’s war footing in part by wearing military-style green T-shirts or other military clothing, and visits outside the region around the capital, kiev, from the start. Of the war. at the end of February.
Staying in Kiev in the early days of the war when the Russian army rushed also put him within a few miles of the front lines.
In addition to visiting Lysychansk, as part of the same trip, Zelensky met civilians in the Zaporizhzhia region who fled the city of Mariupol, which is now under Russian occupation.
“I understand your tough questions,” he said of the displaced families, some of the more than 12 million Ukrainians the war eradicated in a great westward migration, away from the heaviest fighting.
“Each family has its own story,” he continued.
“Most were without men. Someone’s husband has gone to war; someone is in captivity; unfortunately someone died. A tragedy.”
He added that he delivered a message to the families:
“You have to live for the children.”
c.2022 The New York Times Company
Andrew E Kramer
Source: Clarin
