Visiting His Troops On The Front Lines Near A Russian Besieged City, President Zelensky: You Deserve Victory

President Zelensky while visiting his troops on the front line on Sunday. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has returned to visit his troops on the front lines. This time, it was the turn of the troops in Lysychansk and Soledar, two cities very close to some of the fiercest fighting with the Russian army.

The besieged city of Lysychansk is just a few kilometers south of Sievierodonetsk, where one of the war's biggest land battles is taking place. Ukraine claims to be regaining more control.

"I went with the head of (my) office to the east. We are in Lysychansk and Soledar," President Zelensky said in a video of his evening address, adding he would not elaborate on the visit, citing Reuters, June 6.

In two separate videos released later, President Zelensky, wearing his signature khaki T-shirt, is shown talking to troops in a confined bunker-like structure, giving some awards and greeting others.

"What you all deserve is a win, that is the most important thing. But not at any cost," said President Zelensky. Reuters could not immediately confirm whether the video was shot in Lysychansk and Soledar.

The video of Sunday's trip was the rarest President Zelensky has done outside the Kyiv region since the February 24 invasion, being his closest visit to the battlefield.

Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk are in the Lugansk region, while Soledar is in the Donetsk region. The two regions make up the wider Donbas region, Ukraine's industrial heartland, which Russia claims is on a mission to liberate.

Earlier on Sunday, President Zelensky said he had visited frontline troops in the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, whose governor claims 60 percent of the territory is under Russian occupation.

"I want to thank you for your great work, for your service, for protecting all of us, our country," the statement quoted President Zelensky as saying, adding that he was observing a minute's silence for the fallen troops.

Separately, President Zelensky's Office later said, he also visited medical facilities in the region and spoke with people forced to flee their homes, including from Mariupol, which is now in Russian hands after weeks of siege.

He promised action to ensure all those displaced, would be properly re-located.

"We will really help you solve this problem," he was quoted as saying by the presidential office.