Zelensky visited frontline positions in the Kupiansk sector

19 February, 2024 Zelensky with the military. Kupiansk sector, February, 2024. Photo credits: Office of the President

Volodymyr Zelensky visited the frontline positions of the Ukrainian military in the Kupyansk sector. The Office of the President of Ukraine reported on this. During his trip to the Kharkiv region, the President visited the battalion command post of the 14th Mechanized Brigade "Prince Roman the Great" that is performing combat missions in the defense of Kupiansk.

Zelensky spoke with the military and the command and awarded the defenders. The President listened to the report of the brigade commander Lieutenant Colonel Oleksii Trubnikov on the operational situation in the relevant section of the frontline.

Zelensky with the military. Kupiansk sector, February, 2024.

Photo credits: Office of the President

The brigade commander also told Zelensky about the experience of using various types of drones in the area of responsibility and about the peculiarities of combating enemy UAVs with EW systems. They also discussed the provision of equipment, ammunition and other urgent needs of the military.

"I am glad to be here today to see you, to congratulate you, to express gratitude on behalf of all Ukrainians, all of Ukraine, for doing such a great job every day, for defending the state, our families, independence, and our sovereignty. I am confident in you.

I wish you good health. Take care of yourself and your colleagues. This is very important.

I wish you all victory," the President said.

In particular, the Head of State conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine and presented the Golden Star Order to Colonel Oleh Apostol, who has been serving in Air Assault Forces since 2008 and is currently commanding the 95th separate air assault brigade of Armed Forces of Ukraine. Oleh Apostol has been defending Ukraine in the east since 2014. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, he has participated in the defense and liberation of a number of settlements.

Zelensky with the military.

Kupiansk sector, February, 2024. Photo credits: Office of the President

Volodymyr Zelensky also presented the President's Cross of Military Merit to Colonel Oleksandr Lutsenko.

Zelensky with the military. Kupiansk sector, February, 2024.

Photo credits: Office of the President

The defenders also received from the President the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, III class, and the Orders "For Courage", II-III class.

For the safety of the warriors, Volodymyr Zelensky handed over some of the awards to the commanders so that they could present them at the places of their service.

According to the General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia operational-strategic group in the Kupiansk sector, Russian invaders tried to attack the positions of Ukrainian troops near Tabaivka in the Kharkiv region twice over the past day.