President Zelensky Praises Ukrainian Army's Achievements On The Frontline

President Zelensky visited his troops on the front lines. (Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday praised "good results" on the front lines but gave no details or locations, when the Ukraine war against Russia had lasted nearly three years.

In his evening video address, the president praised the 425th separate attack regiment, which appeared to show the action had taken place near the frontline city of Pokrovsk.

"There are good results," President Zelensky said.

"It is inappropriate to describe the geography. I will not make it political, but I would like to congratulate the soldiers of the 425th separate attack regiment. Your strength clearly has meaning. Good work!" he continued.

Russian troops have advanced to Pokrovsk for weeks as part of their steady movement through the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, capturing a series of villages.

Russia's Ministry of Defense on Thursday announced the occupation of Vodiane Druhe, a village in northeastern Pokrovsk. Russian bloggers said the occupation of Vodiane Druhe would allow Russian troops to disrupt Ukraine's supply lines.

President Zelensky's optimistic comments came after days of reports of heavy fighting around the city and Ukraine's attempts to push Russian troops back.

The 425th Regiment, quoted by President Zelensky, made a video this week stating they had pushed Russian troops back from another village west of Pokrovsk.

A spokesman for the group of Khortytsya troops, or east, Ukraine said intense fighting hit areas along the road that stretched from Pokrovsk to the east to the city of Kostyantynivka, which is also under Ukrainian control.

"It is not entirely clear who controls the roads or villages along the way," spokesman Viktor Trehubov told public broadcaster Suspilne.

"Fighting is ongoing there with varying results. Ukrainian troops are regaining their position in certain sectors, Russian troops are trying to survive and defend some small settlements," he continued.

At least one foreign blogger has reported a Ukrainian counter-attack in the region, particularly in southeastern Pokrovsk.

It is known, after failing in the early weeks of the February 2022 invasion to advance to Kyiv, Russian forces have concentrated on seizing Donbas, which consists of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine. Russian troops control about 20 percent of Ukraine.

Much attention along the 1.000 km (600 miles) front line has focused in recent weeks on Pokrovsk, a logistics hub and the location of Ukraine's only coal mining that produces kokas coal, which is now closed as Russian troops have made a profit.