Zelenski visited the besieged town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski visited the frontline town of Avdiivka, which is surrounded on three sides by Russian forces, the president's office announced.
According to a statement, the Ukrainian leader listened to the report of the commander of the Donetsk task force and talked to the military of the marine, airborne assault, mechanised brigades and artillery units.
"I am honoured to be here today, to thank you for your service, for defending our country, Ukraine, and our families. Congratulations on the Easter holidays, I wish you only victory - this is what I wish for every Ukrainian, this is what is very important for all of us. I wish good health to all of you and your families and I am sincerely grateful on behalf of every Ukrainian for the great journey you are going through every day," Zelenski told the soldiers, according to the statement.
The Ukrainian leader presented military awards and in turn received the insignia of the 110th Mechanised Brigade.
The town of Avdiivka has been under intense fighting for months and is largely destroyed, although some 1,800 civilians remain in the town despite efforts to persuade them to leave. There are no safe routes out of the town, but Ukrainian forces still control routes to the west. The town comes under Russian artillery fire almost daily, but Ukrainian defences have largely held, despite Russia's marginal advances to the north, CNN notes.
