Volodymyr Zelensky visited his troops on the front line in the Donbass, in the east of the country where the war is raging against Russian forces, on Sunday June 5, he announced in a video published on the social networks. “We were in Lysytchansk, we were in Soledar,” said the leader who went to command posts in these localities near Severodonetsk, a key city in Moscow’s offensive in the Donbass mining basin. He also traveled to Bakhmout, in the southwest of the Donetsk region, and spoke with soldiers, the presidency said.
“I want to thank you for your great work, for your service, for protecting all of us, our state. I am grateful to everyone,” he told them. ” Take care of yourself ! “I’m proud of everyone I’ve met, shaken hands with, communicated with, supported,” Mr. Zelensky said in his daily address.
With the evacuees from Mariupol
He also said that he had traveled to Zaporizhia, to meet residents of Mariupol who managed to flee this strategic port on the Sea of Azov almost completely destroyed by Russian bombardments. “Each family has its own story. Most were without men,” he noted. “One’s husband has gone to war, another’s is in captivity, yet another’s, unfortunately, is dead. A tragedy. No home, no love. But we have to live for the children. True heroes, they are among us.”
Mr Zelensky’s trip to the battlefield gave him an important overview of military operations and boosted the morale of his troops on the front line, said former Australian Army General Mick Ryan. It also demonstrated that he had “full confidence in his army” and helped to sharpen the contrast between his leadership style and that of his Russian opponent Vladimir Putin, he added on Twitter.
“I’m pretty sure Putin won’t accept an invitation to visit malnourished and poorly led – but well-armed – Russian troops in Ukraine at any time,” he said.
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