Zelensky visits Kharkiv.. Russia bombs the region after his arrival

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made his first official visit to the front line in Kharkiv province on Sunday, and Russian forces bombed the besieged eastern province shortly after his arrival was announced, officials said.

Footage published Sunday on Zelensky's official Telegram channel showed the Ukrainian president inspecting the destroyed infrastructure in Kharkiv and burnt military vehicles abandoned by the Russian army, as he paid tribute to Ukraine's soldiers on the front.

"I feel endless pride in our defenders...every day they risk their lives and fight for the freedom of Ukraine," Zelensky said, thanking the soldiers for their services and awarding them medals for their bravery.

About 100 days into the war, this was Zelensky's first known visit to the front line region in the east of the country, which is under increasing attack from Russian forces, at a time when experts fear certain cities may be under siege.

Shortly after the announcement of the visit, the Kharkiv region was bombed by Russian forces, said Ihor Terekhov, mayor of Kharkiv, the second largest city in the country, and indicated that part of the city was bombed.

Regional Governor Ole Sinihopov told Zelensky that more than 2,000 homes had been destroyed in Kharkiv and the surrounding area, where Russia still controls 31 percent of the land.

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