Ukraine's president said on July 29 that he had arrived at the Vovchansk frontline area in the country's northeastern Kharkiv region, near the border with Russia, where Moscow's forces are trying to make a breakthrough.
Russian troops opened a new front in the north of the region in May, quickly advancing 10 km (6 miles). Clashes in the area have increased since then, especially near Vovchansk, about 74 km (45 miles) from the city of Kharkiv (known in Russia as Kharkov), Ukraine’s second-largest city and a target of numerous air strikes.
"Kharkiv Front. Forward command post of the special operations forces (SOF) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the Vovchansk region," Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app on July 29.
Zelensky visited special operations forces (SOF) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, congratulated them on their anniversary and presented them with state awards, July 29, 2024. Photo: Ukrinform
In a video posted alongside the statement, Mr Zelensky is seen presenting state awards to soldiers and shaking their hands.
In video clips posted online, the Ukrainian leader later said authorities had begun strengthening air defenses in the Kharkiv region, where frequent Russian airstrikes have eased somewhat recently.
“In terms of security, and without going into too many details, we have started to strengthen the airspace around Kharkiv,” Mr Zelensky told businessmen in the neighbouring Poltava region.
Supplies of Western air defence systems have begun to flow more quickly into Ukraine as Washington's aid flow resumes after months of disruption due to disagreements in the US Congress.
Such systems would be deployed more quickly “in places that have suffered a greater number of attacks,” Mr Zelensky said.
Ukraine's General Staff said on July 29 that Russia continued to conduct airstrikes in border areas of the region and that in the past 24 hours, Kiev's forces had repelled six attacks near Vovchansk and the village of Hlyboke more than 30 km (19 miles) to the west.
While Russia's attacks on the Donetsk region in the east remain Moscow's main offensive, the offensive in the Kharkiv region has stretched Ukraine's weak defenses and forced Kiev to send in reinforcements.
During his trip to the Kharkiv region, Mr Zelensky also visited the town of Derhachi, about 15 km (9 miles) from the capital Kharkiv, the Ukrainian leader’s statement said. Both settlements have been the target of frequent Russian missile and guided bomb attacks.
Mr. Zelensky also held talks with local authorities on the security and energy situation in the region, saying in a statement on Telegram that the main focus of the meetings was to prepare the city of Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region for the upcoming autumn and winter period.
Minh Duc (According to Straits Times, Anadolu, Ukrinform)
Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/ong-zelensky-tiet-lo-ve-chuyen-tham-moi-nhat-toi-tien-tuyen-gan-kharkiv-204240730103445305.htm
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