Zelenskyy Visits Troops Near Zaporizhia Front as Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Sites:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an unannounced visit to troops near the front line in southern Zaporizhia on Thursday, as heavy fighting continues and Russian forces press forward in several directions. Zelenskyy said on X (formerly Twitter) that he met with soldiers from the 65th Separate Mechanised Brigade at their command post near the town of Orikhiv, a few kilometres from the front. Sharing photos from the visit, he wrote that he had received reports on the “operational situation in the sector, enemy activity, and losses among the occupiers.” “We are doing everything possible to strengthen our warriors,” Zelenskyy said, praising the soldiers for their courage and commitment despite difficult conditions. The visit came as Ukraine’s military acknowledged that the situation in the Zaporizhia region had deteriorated, with Russian troops increasing their pace of attack. Orikhiv, which sits close to key supply routes, has been the scene of intense fighting for months. At the same time, Ukrainian forces launched strikes on Russian-held oil facilities in Crimea and the occupied part of Zaporizhia. According to Ukraine’s General Staff, the attacks targeted fuel depots and military infrastructure using domestically developed Flamingo cruise missiles and drones. In eastern Kharkiv, at least three people were killed and another injured after a Russian drone strike hit the village of Bohuslavka, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Two victims died instantly, while another succumbed to injuries in hospital. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its units “continued advancing deep into enemy defences,” saying they had captured Danylivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region and Synelnykove in Kharkiv. Earlier this week, Moscow also reported taking control of three other villages in Ukraine’s south, where the front lines had previously remained largely static. While the fighting on the battlefield intensifies, political tensions between Kyiv and Moscow also appear to be hardening. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Ukraine would “sooner or later” have to return to peace negotiations with Russia — but “from a much worse position.” His comments came after Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya confirmed that peace talks, last held earlier this year in Istanbul, had been suspended due to a lack of progress. He told The Times that Kyiv had asked Western allies to help arrange a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, though Putin has shown no interest in such talks, even rejecting efforts from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Back in Kyiv, Zelenskyy is also grappling with a growing corruption scandal that has shaken his government. Ukrainian investigators say around $100 million was siphoned from the energy sector — already under strain from Russian attacks. On Wednesday, both the justice and energy ministers submitted their resignations after Zelenskyy called for their removal. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Ukraine to press ahead with “vigorous anti-corruption measures and rule-of-law reforms,” warning that international trust must be maintained for continued aid. In response, Zelenskyy ordered sanctions on a former business associate linked to the scandal and pledged “complete transparency” in the investigation. He told Merz that Kyiv would continue to strengthen its independent anti-corruption institutions and take swift action to restore confidence among Ukrainians and international donors alike. As the war nears its fourth year, Zelenskyy’s visit to the front line — combined with new strikes on Russian targets and promises of reform at home — sends a clear signal: Ukraine is determined to keep fighting on every front, both military and political.

NEWS