War in Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky visited Bakhmout on the front in the east of the country
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Bakhmout, December 20, 2022. AFP - STRINGER
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled on Tuesday (December 20th) to Bakhmout, a city that Russian forces have been trying to take for months and currently the hottest point on the front in eastern Ukraine, his service said. Press.
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The image of the day in Ukraine is none other than President Volodymyr Zelensky's surprise visit to Bakhmout, in the Donbass, where the fiercest fighting on the entire front line is currently taking place.
“He met soldiers, spoke with them and gave decorations to our soldiers
,” said the press service of the Ukrainian presidency, without giving further details.
While Zelensky regularly travels to areas
near the frontline
, his visit to Bakhmout seems the riskiest of his trips.
This is the first time Volodymyr Zelensky has been to a place so close to the fighting.
Bakhmout © RFI
A city described as a "fortress of morale" for Ukrainians
“
Zelensky in Bakhmout.
The bravest president of the nation, the bravest
,” Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov commented on Telegram.
Since the summer, the Russians have been trying to take Bakhmout, once known for its vineyards and salt mines and which had around 70,000 inhabitants before the invasion of Moscow launched at the end of February.
“
Bakhmout, is the fortress of our morale
”, thus launched the Ukrainian head of state to several dozen soldiers gathered in a warehouse, from where one could hear explosions in the distance.
For Volodymyr Zelensky,
“eastern Ukraine is holding firm, because Bakhmout is fighting and because at the cost of many lives, freedom is being defended there.
»
Zelensky-Putin, two decisive attitudes
Beyond the medals of honor given to combatants, the Ukrainian flag signed by soldiers, entrusted to their president so that the latter sends it to the American Congress, this express trip to the Donbass is a communication coup, from the part of Volodymyr Zelensky, past master in the matter, explains our correspondent
in
Kiev,
Stéphane Siohan
.
While the Ukrainian forces began a counter-attack three days ago to dislodge the Russian forces, and in particular the Wagner militia, from the suburbs of Bakhmout, Volodymyr Zelensky displays a physical courage which contrasts more than ever with the attitude of withdrawal of his Russian opponent, Vladimir Putin.
By showing up where you least expect him, he galvanizes his soldiers and his population, and shows the Russians that they are still far from having won the battle of Donbass.
►Also read:
Belarus: Putin-Lukashenko meeting amid missiles hitting Ukraine
In recent months, the city has become the scene of apparent massive casualties on both sides from grueling trench warfare, heavy artillery duels and frontal assaults.
While Russian troops have claimed the capture of villages and areas at the very end of the city, Ukrainian forces seem to control Bakhmout and part of its surroundings.
“
Russian forces reportedly lost positions south of Bakhmut on December 18 and continued their ground attacks near Bakhmout and the city of Donetsk
,” the Institute for the Study of War analysis center commented in its report on Monday. based in the United States.
(With
AFP
)
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