Visit before the President: Zelensky: Kharkiv must become a base for security in the East

President’s visit ahead
Zelenskyj: Kharkiv should become a base for security in the east

October 4, 2023, 12:16 am

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Ukrainian President Zelensky visits the front in the east. He also stops at Kargi. A strategically important city should play a special role in the counter-attack.

After a visit to the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the region to be strengthened against Russian attacks. “It is very important that Kharkiv fights against everything, but also helps keep our entire east strong,” he said in his daily video address. The various meetings discussed, among others, mining permits and protecting energy facilities from Russian fire.

“There are many important questions for this region. Especially before winter. Especially considering the Russian terrorism against Kharkiv and the region and the intentions of the aggressors to intensify the storm on our positions,” Zelensky said. He demanded that certain matters be “significantly accelerated” on the Ukrainian side.

At the beginning of the war of aggression launched by Moscow, the Russian army tried to occupy the city of Kharkiv, less than 30 kilometers from Russia’s national border. Although that attempt failed, the Russians captured large swaths of territory that the Ukrainians were only able to repulse last fall. Fighting is currently raging along the border between Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Luhansk regions. Russian troops have recently regained this initiative.

Zelensky previously inspected the Leopard 2 tank during a visit to troops in the Kubiansk sector of the front. In a video, Zelenskyj can be seen awarding soldiers in the background of such a battle tank.

“A Westwagen is a Westwagen,” one player praised the German-made tank during a conversation with Zelensky. In addition to the Leopard tanks, Zelensky also saw CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles. The video’s caption says the two were involved in a fight in the Kubyansk sector of northeastern Ukraine. Tanks supplied by the West since this spring are intended to help retake Ukraine’s occupied territories.