Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in " ;X" that it is located in Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine, the center of the Kharkiv region, which has been under a Russian offensive for two weeks.
"Today I am in Kharkiv," Zelensky said, claiming that he presided over meetings dedicated to the situation in the region, preparations for the heating season, defense and the restoration of the energy infrastructure, France Press reported, quoted by BTA.
p>Today in Kharkiv.
He held a meeting regarding the operational situation in the region and preparations for the heating season.
Reports on the defense of the region, in particular on the Vovchan region, restoration of the damaged energy infrastructure. Special attention – простовню вышилем наших… pic.twitter.com/SfED8KFpDf— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 24, 2024
"We paid special attention to the shelter needs of our people who were forced to leave territories of the Kharkiv region under Russian shelling. The city and the entire Kharkiv region deserve all our support, gratitude and respect," he wrote in "X".
In another post, Zelensky posted a photo of a printing shop in Kharkiv, where yesterday a Russian strike killed 7 people and injured 21, expressing his condolences.
"Russian terror must never go unpunished. Step by step we ensure that the Russian state will bear the consequences and costs of its evil. I am grateful to everyone who helps our people and to everyone who protects Ukraine!", the Ukrainian president emphasized.
One of the largest printing complexes in Kharkiv and all of Ukraine.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 24, 2024
Yesterday, as a result of a Russian missile strike, seven people died here. My close friends. Another 21 people were injured. A production complex was destroyed, tens of thousands of books were burned by this impact.… pic.twitter.com/fBdAj6uIQr
Ukraine claims it has "stopped" the Russian attack in the Kharkiv region, which had been going on for two weeks, and has launched a counterattack in this sector of the northeastern part of the country. The Russian army launched an offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10, capturing several towns and forcing Ukraine to deploy valuable reinforcements to the area.
After two weeks of fighting, "the Ukrainian defense forces stopped the Russian troops" and "carrying out counter-offensive actions," said Colonel Igor Prokhorenko, an official of the Ukrainian General Staff. He defined the situation in the region as "difficult", but "stable and under control".
Heavy battles are taking place in the region, especially for control over the divided city of Vovchansk. Kiev accuses Moscow of committing atrocities in that city.
"The enemy is completely bogged down in street fighting in Vovchansk and has suffered very heavy losses," General Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, said today, adding that Moscow was sending in "reserves" to continue its offensive.
According to Kiev, Russia's aim is to stretch to the limit the defense lines of Ukrainian forces weakened by two years of war, a lack of recruits and a shortage of weapons due to months of prodding by the West.