President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the city of Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, this Friday (24), as he faces intense Russian airstrikes amid an offensive push by Moscow's forces in the north of the region.
The Ukrainian leader met senior military leaders in the city and traveled to the site of a large printing plant a day after it was destroyed in a Russian missile attack that killed at least seven people.
“Today I am in Kharkiv… I also received updates on defense operations, particularly in the Vovchansk area, as well as the recovery of damaged energy infrastructure,” Zelensky said in X.
Russian forces launched an attack on 10 May, heading towards the border town of Vovchansk in one line of attack and pushing towards the village of Lyptsi in the other.
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's top commander, said on Thursday that Russian forces were locked in street fighting in Vovchansk and had moved to a defensive position near Lyptsi.
Russia says it wants to create a “buffer” zone in the region in what it calls a response to Kiev’s bombing of Russian border regions such as Belgorod. Russia frequently launches airstrikes against Ukraine from the Belgorod region.
The advance opened a new front in the war in what Kiev said was an effort to divert its outnumbered troops from the east, where the fiercest fighting is taking place.
Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is about 30 km from the border with Russia, and the surrounding region has faced daily attacks from missiles, drones and guided bombs for months.
Most of the energy infrastructure was severely damaged in the city, which is still home to around 1.3 million people.
“The entire city and region of Kharkiv deserves our support, gratitude and respect,” Zelenskiy said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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