Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has spoken of great suffering, but also of hope, after visiting the frontline areas in the east of the country. He had visited the region around the embattled Bakhmut and the city of Kharkiv to get an idea of the situation. This Thursday, Zelenskyj is to be connected by video to an EU summit, at which the Ukraine war will also be discussed.

Zelenskyj after visit to the front: hope can be felt

"It is painful to see the cities in Donbass over which Russia has brought terrible suffering and ruins," Zelenskyi said in his evening video address on Wednesday. There are "hourly air raid sirens, constant threat of shelling, a constant threat to life." But despite the severe destruction and suffering, there is hope in these areas. "You can feel them," Zelenskyi said.

"We will do everything so that the blue and yellow colors can continue their liberation movement and normal life can return to our whole country, from Donetsk to the border," he said, alluding to the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

At the same time, Zelenskyj announced a response from Kiev to Russia's recent attacks on Ukrainian cities with combat drones. "We will definitely respond to any attack by the occupiers on our cities," Zelensky said. "We will respond to all Russian attacks militarily, politically and legally."

According to Kiev, at least 14 people were killed in Russian attacks in various parts of Ukraine on Wednesday. The press service of the Ukrainian army also reported 24 injured.

Zelenskyi visits and honors "hero city" Kharkiv

Zelenskyj visited the city of Kharkiv in the northeast of the country on Wednesday and presented Mayor Ihor Terekhov with the insignia of a "hero city of Ukraine". With the honor, Zelenskyj honored the resistance of the residents against Russian attacks in the previous year. "Kharkiv is a real hero city," Zelenskyi said, according to the Unian news agency. "Thanks to the citizens, this beautiful city, along with other cities, defends our independence."

Kharkiv had, as a kind of breakwater, stopped the Russian attacks in the far east of Ukraine in battles with losses for both sides. In May, the Russian forces were pushed out of the immediate vicinity of the city in a Ukrainian counteroffensive. During his visit, Zelenskyi awarded a number of medals to the defenders of Ukraine's second largest city. A few hours earlier, the Ukrainian head of state had distributed medals to the defenders near the heavily embattled city of Bakhmut.