Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a rare trip outside Kyiv to visit the war-damaged city of Mykolaiv in the south while the worst of the fighting continued in the eastern Donbas region.
Heavy battles are raging in villages near the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, according to Ukrainian authorities. Russian troops have been trying to take control of Sievierodonetsk for weeks.
“Now the most fierce battles are near Sievierodonetsk. They (Russia) do not control the city entirely,” Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the eastern Luhansk region, said on Telegram. “In nearby villages there are very difficult fights — in Toshkivska, Zolote. They are trying to break through but failing. Our defenders are fighting Russians in all directions.”
Haidai also reported that Russian troops are heavily shelling Lysychansk, a city across a river from Sievierodonetsk, that is still controlled by the Ukrainians.
Russia’s defense ministry said Saturday that Russian forces have destroyed oil refining and fuel storage facilities in the areas of Lysychansk and Kremenchuk, located in central Ukraine. Russia said the facilities were intended to supply equipment to the Ukrainian military in the Donbas region.
Zelenskyy’s visit to Mykolaiv was the Ukrainian leader’s first to the southern city since Russia invaded Ukraine almost four months ago.
The president’s office published video Saturday of Zelenskyy surveying a badly damaged high-rise residential building and holding meetings with local officials. He also visited soldiers on the southern front line.
The president’s office did not say when the visit took place.
Author
eastafricanreport.com
