Mr. Zelensky visits the northeastern front line

President Zelensky visited the command headquarters in the city of Kharkov province to encourage soldiers, amid difficulties facing the force on the battlefield.

"I visited the command post of the battalion of the 14th Independent Mechanized Brigade, which is defending Kupyansk," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram on February 19. "It is always an honor to meet those who defend us."

Mr. Zelensky (center) took a photo with members of the 14th Brigade on February 19. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine — Mr. Zelensky (center) took a photo with members of the 14th Brigade on February 19. Photo: *Office of the President of Ukraine*

President Zelensky also awarded a number of soldiers for their outstanding performance on the battlefield.

"I am very happy to meet you and congratulate you, and on behalf of all Ukrainians I would like to express my gratitude to you for doing your job well every day," Zelensky said during the visit. "I have great confidence in you. I wish you all good health."

Kupyansk is a strategic transport city, straddling the rail and road networks in northeastern Ukraine. Russian forces captured the city early in the conflict, but were driven out by Ukrainian forces in a lightning counteroffensive in late 2022. Russia has since launched several offensives to retake Kupyansk.

The Center for Defense Strategy of Ukraine (CDSU), a Kiev-based think tank, said earlier this month that Russia had massed about 500 tanks, hundreds of armored vehicles and tens of thousands of troops on the front line of an offensive against the city.

Mr. Zelensky visits the northeastern front line — Mr. Zelensky visited the Ukrainian command headquarters in Kupyansk on February 19. Video: *Office of the President of Ukraine*

Mr. Zelensky visited Kupyansk in the context that on February 17, the Ukrainian army had to retreat from Avdeevka, a key urban area in Donetsk province, to "preserve the lives" of soldiers in the face of the risk of being surrounded by Russian forces. Ukraine lost Avdeevka just over a month after President Zelensky visited the city to encourage soldiers, similar to the purpose of visiting Kupyansk.

The Russian military announced on February 19 that it had taken full control of the Avdeevka Chemical and Coke Plant (AKHZ), the last stronghold of many Ukrainian soldiers in the city. The 47th Independent Mechanized Brigade said on the same day that its members were the last to leave AKHZ, adding that no servicemen had been killed or injured during the withdrawal.

The Ukrainian military says its troops have consolidated positions at new lines near Avdeevka after withdrawing from the city.

Taking control of Avdeevka is considered Russia's biggest victory since capturing Bakhmut in May 2023. Some Western experts and officials believe that Russia will expand its frontline by 50-60 km after taking control of Avdeevka, opening the way for them to attack other cities such as Konstantinovka in the north and move closer to their goal of complete control of Donetsk province.