Zelenskyy visits front line near Bakhmut
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops at the front line near Bakhmut as Ukrainian forces continue to make ground in their counteroffensive, the president's office said Tuesday.
Zelenskyy, who was accompanied by commander of ground forces Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, thanked soldiers for their service and presented them with awards, according to a video released by the office.
![PHOTO: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (2ndL) and the colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi (L) visiting the brigades engaged in offensive operations in the Bakhmut sector, in Donetsk region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sept. 5, 2023.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/7075a734-c80c-4417-a704-784821c9d2c8/zelensky-bakhmut-ukraine-01-gty-jt-230905_1693928831745_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg)
"I awarded the best warriors. And I thank everyone who fights for the sake of the state," Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian defense forces continue to advance in the direction of Melitopol, according to the spokesman for Pavlo Kovalchuk, the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
![PHOTO: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky (2ndL) and the colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi (L) visiting the brigades engaged in offensive operations in the Bakhmut sector, in Donetsk region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sept. 5, 2023.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/2380ce6a-35e3-4650-a112-e3cd5c60e2c4/zelensky-bakhmut-gty-jt-230905_1693928696816_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg)
"They were successful in the direction of Robotyne - Novoprokopivka. They are entrenching at the achieved milestones," the spokesman said.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky