Meeting His Troops on the Front Lines That Are Prone to Drone and Artillery Attacks, President Zelensky: They Face a Difficult Mission

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky was almost involved in gunfire when he visited Ukrainian troops on the front lines of the battle.

President Zelensky traveled to the Zaporizhzhia region, amid speculation regarding the dismissal of the country's military chief which has been circulating since last week.

The president, who often tours areas close to the front lines, met with soldiers in the village of Robotyne, which his office said was almost on the battle line.

"This is Robotyne and there is fierce fighting going on," Serhiy Nikiforov, presidential spokesman, told reporters, as reported by Reuters, February 5.

"So it was pretty close to an explosion, but I wouldn't dramatize the situation," he continued.

Ukrainian soldiers were quoted on social media as saying that the areas President Zelensky visited were at risk due to intense drone and artillery activity.

In a statement President Zelensky said he came to the area to support and pay tribute to Ukrainian soldiers.

"They face a difficult and critical mission to repel the enemy and defend Ukraine," said President Zelensky.

It is known that the southeastern settlement of Robotyne was liberated at the end of August last year in a counterattack launched against Russian troops. Overall, the counteroffensive had only limited success in regaining territory against overwhelmingly powerful enemy forces.

The visit to the battle lines comes at a time of uncertainty over the fate of Ukraine's military chief, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

Two sources said on Friday that the Ukrainian government had notified the White House of its plans to fire the country's top military commander who oversaw the war against Russian occupation forces.

The alleged move to remove General Zaluzhnyi, who has clashed with President Zelensky on a range of issues, follows uncertain results from Ukraine's counteroffensive.