President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday made a surprise visit to Bakhmut, the industrial Ukrainian city which has been the epicenter of fighting for months.
“I am honored to be here today to award our heroes. To shake hands and thank them for protecting the sovereignty of our country,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
He also shared a video of his visit to the Ukrainian positions, in which he is shown addressing soldiers and awarding medals.
“Glory to each and every one who is now fighting for Ukraine! May the memory of all those who sacrificed their lives for our independence be blessed,” the Ukrainian leader added.
Zelenskyy then visited a local hospital where Ukrainian soldiers are undergoing treatment for their wounds, wishing soldiers a speedy recovery.
"I would like to thank the representatives of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for their professionalism and work. Until victory, it is necessary to save the lives of many people who are defending our country. You are defending it at your front," he said.
Zelenskyy also held a meeting with the military command in the region, during which he was informed on the social and security situation in Donetsk.
"The restoration of the destroyed infrastructure, as well as the issue of ensuring an uninterrupted supply of water and electricity, was discussed. The parties also considered the issue of funding for healthcare facilities relocated from the temporarily occupied territories," a Ukrainian presidency statement read.
Bakhmut is a large transport and logistics hub in Ukraine’s Donetsk, part of the largely Russian-speaking industrialized Donbas region.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner paramilitary group involved in Russia's "special military operation," claimed earlier this month that the city had almost been encircled.
On Monday, Prigozhin warned Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, in a letter shared on Telegram, that Ukraine is planning an offensive aimed at cutting off Wagner forces from the main body of Russian troops in the region and asked him to take "all necessary measures" to prevent such a situation.
