Zelensky's visit to the front comes in light of circulating reports of his imminent dismissal of the army commander (Reuters)

Russia said on Sunday that a Ukrainian attack on the city of Lysychansk in the Ukrainian province of Lugansk, which is under Russian control, left 28 people dead, including women and children.

This comes as the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the latter visited the Ukrainian forces on the southeastern front and awarded their members medals, amid frequent speculation that he would soon dismiss Army Commander Valery Zaloghny, who is very popular.

Zelensky said - in a statement after visiting the Zaporozhye region - "It is an honor for me to be here today. To support and honor the warriors. They are facing a difficult and vital mission to expel the enemy and defend Ukraine."

The presidential office said in the statement that Zelensky visited the forward positions of the Ukrainian army near the village of Robotyn, which is located almost on the front line.

Kiev retook Robotyn, located in southeastern Ukraine, in late August 2023 in its counterattack on Russian forces.

Ukrainian attack

Zelensky's visit came as Moscow announced that a Ukrainian attack on the city of Lysychansk, eastern Ukraine, left 28 people dead.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry said that 10 people were rescued from under the rubble of the targeted building in the city, and that "the search and rescue operation is continuing."

The Russian-controlled Luhansk Information Center said on Telegram that the bombing occurred using the Himars system provided by the United States.

Ukrainian officials did not make any statement about the attack.

It is noteworthy that Russia took control of the city of Lysychansk in July 2022 after months of fierce fighting, and only about a tenth of its population remained in the city, whose number during the war was 110,000 people, according to Ukrainian officials.

Moscow took control of vast areas of eastern Ukraine after starting its war on this country in February 2022, in the largest land war in Europe since World War II.

It currently controls approximately 18% of Ukrainian territory, and the controlled territories are considered an integral part of Russia, while Kiev and the West reject this annexation process and consider it illegal.

Source: Agencies