KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian troops on the southeastern entrance and handed out medals, his workplace mentioned on Sunday (Feb 4) amid intense hypothesis that his widespread military chief might quickly be sacked.
“It is an honour to be right here right now. To help the soldiers and award them. They face a tough and demanding mission to repel the enemy and defend Ukraine,” Zelenskyy mentioned in an announcement after visiting Zaporizhzhia area.
The presidential workplace mentioned within the assertion that Zelenskyy visited the Ukrainian navy’s ahead positions close to the village of Robotyne, which is positioned virtually on the battle line.
The southeastern settlement of Robotyne had been liberated in late August within the counteroffensive in opposition to Russian forces.
The president’s go to to the battle strains got here at a time of uncertainty over the destiny of military chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.
Two sources mentioned on Friday that the Ukrainian authorities had knowledgeable the White Home that it plans to fireside the nation’s high navy commander overseeing the warfare in opposition to Russian occupation forces.
The alleged transfer to oust Zaluzhnyi, who has clashed with Zelenskyy over a variety of points, follows a Ukrainian counteroffensive final yr that didn’t get better important quantities of Russian-held territory.
Often known as “the Iron Normal”, Zaluzhnyi is extraordinarily widespread. His elimination might harm morale amongst Ukrainian troops battling to carry positions alongside greater than 1,000km of frontlines in opposition to an unlimited Russian drive armed with massive munitions stockpiles.
