President Zelensky Praises His Military Battle with Russian Troops in the Middle of Winter

President Zelensky was listening to directions from the Ukrainian military. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday thanked the Ukrainian military, praising them for fighting Russian attacks and emergency services amid extreme winter weather.

In his evening video address, President Zelensky said ongoing heavy fighting was taking place in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Kharkiv, while "very challenging weather" was affecting areas from Kyiv in the north to Odesa in the south, reported Reuters, November 27.

President Zelensky said special thanks should be expressed to those who defended the country, who carried out the Ukrainian offensive operation, who were in combat positions, at combat posts, who served in mobile fire groups, and in all other units that protect Ukraine.

"I would like to thank everyone who appropriately responded to the Russian terrorist attack, who repelled the enemy's attack even today, under such conditions," praised President Zelensky on the official website of the Ukrainian Presidency.

In Russian-controlled territory, Oleg Kryuchkov, a senior Moscow-appointed official, said nearly half a million people were without power in Crimea, a peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014.

The Russian-controlled region of Crimea, the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, and parts of Moscow's Kherson region declared a holiday Monday amid reports of strong winds, flooded homes, and snow-covered roads. as well as damaged buildings.

Separately, Ukrainian border authorities said Moldova had temporarily suspended vehicle access to its territory from two crossing points in the Odessa Region. Moldovan authorities also asked local schools to consider closing due to snowfall and strong winds.

Meanwhile, Odesa Mayor Henadii Trukhanov urged residents of Black Sea ports to stay at home. The local government warned that water supplies were disrupted by a power outage that left pumps unable to work and urged people to conserve supplies.

Power grid operator Ukrenergo shared a photo of a transmission tower in the Odesa region whose legs were broken in half by strong winds.

"We are doing everything possible to overcome the consequences of the bad weather as quickly as possible and restore light to every home," Ukrenergo said.