Volodymyr Zelensky on the move to Kharkiv

Wearing a bulletproof vest and with a heavily armed escort, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees the gutted buildings of Kharkiv (Ukraine). This is his first appearance outside the kyiv region since the start of the Russian invasion. Provided by the Ukrainian presidency, these images show him inspecting the destruction alongside the governor. Showing up on the front line, going to Kharkiv (500 kilometers from kyiv): it’s a symbol but also a way of maintaining the morale of the Ukrainians because if the Russian vice has loosened here, the offensive is getting tougher in the Donbass.

Volodymyr Zelensky himself congratulated the troops who continue to fight. “I want to thank each and every one of you. You are risking your life for all of us, for our homeland. Thank you for defending the independence of our country, take care of yourselves, glory to Ukraine”, he declares in front of the soldiers. On the other hand, the Ukrainian president dismissed the head of security in Kharkiv, whom he accused of not doing enough to defend the city.