KYIV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky said he visited two towns very close to one of the busiest frontlines between his country’s troops and Russian forces, where a regional official indicated that the situation had worsened.
Ukrainian forces suffered a slight setback as they managed to retake half of the city of Sievierodonetsk, the main battleground in the east where Russia has concentrated its forces, Serhiy Gada, governor of Ukraine, told state television. the province of Luhansk where the city is located.
Serhiy Gada gave no details but said Ukrainian troops were still holding their positions in the city’s industrial zone.
“The heaviest fighting is taking place in Sievierodonetsk. Rapid fighting is taking place right now,” he said.
Volodimir Zelensky said he had been to Lisichansk, south of Sievierodonetsk, and Soledar – rare outings for him outside kyiv since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, and probably the closest to the line head on so far.
“What you all deserve is victory – that’s the most important thing. But not just any price,” Volodimir Zelensky told Ukrainian troops in a video released Sunday night.
Lisichansk and Sievierodonetsk are in the Luhansk region and Soledar in the Donetsk region. Together, they constitute the Donbass, the industrial heart of Ukraine, which Russia claims to have the mission to “liberate”.
(Report Natalia Zinets, Pavel Polityuk, Lidia Kelly and Ronald Popeski; French version Augustin Turpin, told by Kate Entringer)