Zelensky visits Kharkiv hours before a new Russian attack on the city

The President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, visited the country's second city, Kharkiv, this Sunday, this being the first time he has made an official visit outside the Kyiv region in more than three months.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
29 May 2022 Sunday 12:22
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Zelensky visits Kharkiv hours before a new Russian attack on the city

The President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, visited the country's second city, Kharkiv, this Sunday, this being the first time he has made an official visit outside the Kyiv region in more than three months. His presence took place hours before the city was attacked again.

"I feel unlimited pride in our defenders. Every day they fight for the freedom of Ukraine risking their lives," explained the Ukrainian president after the visit, which also took him to the front line, where Russia has occupied 30 % of territories, according to local authorities.

The Russians attacked Ukraine's second largest city today. "Kharkiv is constantly bombed and today, unfortunately, we had another one," said Igor Terekhov, a local leader.

Terekhov called on the residents of the city to "be very careful" and be aware of all the risks that exist today.

"Cafes, restaurants, shops are opening in the city... But everyone must be aware of the danger of missile and artillery attacks," he warned.

The Russian army on Sunday continued its attacks at various points in Donbas, where it is getting closer and closer to the Ukrainian military stronghold of Kramatorsk, a key town for the control of eastern Ukraine, while the fight for Severodonetsk, one of the largest cities of Luhansk.

According to Zelensky, today Severodonetsk and its neighbor Lisichansk are among the "key areas" of Ukrainian resistance to the advance of Russian troops in Donbas.

"The situation is incredibly difficult, but our defense is holding up and I am very grateful to everyone who is putting up with the pressure of the occupiers," the Ukrainian leader said in a video message.

After claiming victory in the town of Limán, the Russian troops targeted the city of Kramatorsk, an important Donbas railway junction, considered key to control over the area.

Kramatorsk, the administrative center of the Ukrainian-controlled territory in the Donetsk region, was left without electricity as a result of fighting with Russian forces on Sunday, the city's mayor, Alexandr Goncharenko, announced.

"As a result of hostilities, a high-voltage power line has been cut. Kramatorsk and all neighboring towns are without electricity," the councilor wrote on his Facebook account.

Goncharenko added that at the moment the repair is complicated because the fighting makes access to the site in question dangerous.

Kramatorsk, with about 150,000 inhabitants before the war, has been home to the administrative institutions of the Donetsk region since the official capital has been under the control of pro-Russian separatists.

The Sloviansk thermal power plant, near Kramatorsk, announced this Saturday that it was ceasing operations in view of the Russian advance to allow the evacuation of employees and their families.

Meanwhile, in the Lugansk region, where Ukrainian forces currently control only 5% of the territory, the Ukrainian army has been able to counterattack in the last 24 hours to drive Russian troops away from the Bakhmut-Lisichansk highway, key to control of the strategic Severodonetsk.

According to the local governor, Serhiy Gaidai, the Ukrainians also regained control over the town of Toshkivka, north of Severodonetsk, which Moscow troops took days ago.

At the same time, the official acknowledged that Russian forces continue to defend their positions at the Mir hotel, on the outskirts of Severodonetsk.

Meanwhile, the Bakhmut-Lisichansk route, the only access to the strategic city, which is practically surrounded, is now safer, according to Gaidai.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrainian forces in Severodonetsk face the second biggest challenge in more than three months after the long siege of the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

The attrition of Russian forces in this direction may allow Kyiv to restart its counter-offensives once the fighting for Severodonetsk is over, regardless of which side wins it, ISW experts say.

At the same time, Ukraine may suffer "a major tactical defeat" in the coming days if Severodonetsk falls, the ISW warns.