On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy paid a visit to frontline troops in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, his first formal appearance outside of Kyiv since Russia’s invasion began on February 24.
“You risk your lives for us all and for our country,” he said the soldiers, according to the President’s office website, who also handed out commendations and presents.
Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, said on the Telegram app that the president had also visited Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
According to Yermak, Zelenskiy examined devastated residential buildings, stressing that their replacements would have to include bomb shelters.
According to the president’s chief of staff, Russia currently occupies 31% of the Kharkiv region’s territory, with a further 5% reclaimed by Ukraine after being held previously.
