Zelenskyy visits Bakhmut front line, awards Ukrainian military

This is reported on the President’s website.

"I am honored to be here today, in the east of our country, in Donbas, and to award our heroes, to thank you, to shake hands. Thank you for protecting the state, sovereignty, the east of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

The president listened to reports on the situation and the course of hostilities in the Bakhmut direction, talked to the servicemen and thanked them.

The President presented awards to Ukrainian defenders.

The “Golden Star'' Order was awarded by Zelenskyy to artilleryman Captain Illia Vergun, who was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Since February 24, 2022, the soldier has been participating in the fight against Russia's armed aggression. He directly led anti-tank calculations during the liberation of the city of Trostianets, Sumy region, participated in holding back Russian troops in the Izyum direction. The units under his leadership and with Vergun's personal participation destroyed a large number of Russian vehicles.

A minute of silence was held in memory of the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

• On March 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to a nighttime Russian attack launched with Iranian-made Shahed “kamikaze” drones.