Zelenskyy Visits Advanced Positions In Donetsk Region And Awards Defenders Of Bakhmut

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited advanced positions in the Donetsk Region and awarded the defenders of Bakhmut. This is stated in a message from the Office of the President, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"During a working trip to the Donetsk Region, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the advanced positions of the Ukrainian military in the Bakhmut direction," the message reads.

Zelenskyy listened to reports on the operational situation and the course of hostilities on the front line.

The President talked to the servicemen and thanked them for defending Ukraine.

"I have the honor to be here today, in the east of our state, in Donbas, and to reward our heroes, to thank you, to shake hands. To thank you for defending the state, sovereignty, and east of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

Those present honored the memory of the fallen defenders with a moment of silence.

The President presented the servicemen with state awards.

In particular, an artilleryman, Captain Ilia Verhun, who was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, was awarded the Order of the Golden Star by the head of state. Since February 24, 2022, he has been participating in the resistance to Russia's armed aggression, directly managed anti-tank units during the liberation of Trostianets, Sumy Region, and participated in deterring the enemy in the Izium direction. Units under his leadership and with the personal participation of Verhun destroyed a large amount of enemy equipment.

As Ukrainian News Agency reported, earlier the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated that the defensive operation in the Bakhmut direction is key to the stability of the defense of the entire front.