Zelenskyy visits Ukrainian troops after counteroffensive success on southern front
Photo: Zelenskyy honors soldiers from the brigade that liberated 12 settlements in the south (president.gov.ua)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the front lines and met with soldiers from a brigade fighting on one of the most active fronts, at the junction of three regions.
Zelenskyy on front lines
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with soldiers of the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade named after General-Horunzhyi Leonid Stupnytskyi. The Brigade is holding the line in the Oleksandrivka sector.
Recently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated 12 settlements from the Russian troops in this area.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi briefed the President on the situation at the front. Following him, the Brigade commander delivered a report on the operational situation in the defense sector.
Today, I met with warriors of the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade named after General-Khorunzhyi Leonid Stupnytskyi, which is holding the line in the Oleksandrivskyi sector.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 8, 2026
I received a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on the situation at the front. Despite… pic.twitter.com/hCg7KMhYad
"I presented our defenders with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class, and the Orders "For Courage," II and III class. Thank you for your service, for your resilience, and for defending Ukraine and our sovereignty," the statement reads.
It was precisely in this sector that the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out a series of successful offensive operations. As part of the operation, Ukrainian defenders liberated nine settlements from the Russian troops; three more have been fully cleared, and work to liberate several others is ongoing.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi summarized the latest results of the operation in the south.
"Since the start of the operation, we have regained control of about 470 sq. km, neutralizing more than 11,000 invaders," he said.
