The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, during a working trip to the Donetsk region, visited the advanced positions of Ukrainian defenders in the Bakhmut direction.

 This is reported by the Office of the President.

 Zelenskyі listened to reports on the operational situation and the course of hostilities on the front line.

 The President also spoke with the military and thanked them for protecting Ukraine.

 "I have the honor to be here today, in the east of our country, in Donbas, and to reward our heroes, to thank you, to shake hands. To thank you for protecting the state, sovereignty, and east of Ukraine," the head of state said.

 Those present honored the memory of the fallen defenders with a moment of silence.

 Zelenskyi also presented state awards to the military.

 In particular, the "Golden Star" order was awarded to an artilleryman, captain Ilya Vergun, who was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. From February 24, 2022, he participates in the resistance to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. The hero directly managed anti-tank calculations during the liberation of Trostyanets, Sumy region, participated in holding back the enemy in the Izyum direction. Units under his leadership and with the personal participation of Vergun destroyed a large amount of Russian equipment.

 We will remind, the spokesman of the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces Serhiy Cherevaty noted that the defense of Bakhmut lays the groundwork for a further counteroffensive of the Defense Forces.

 In addition, the commander of the Ground Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, reported that the Russians are trying to advance from the outskirts to the center of Bakhmut, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding back enemy assaults.

 Meanwhile, British intelligence noted that the threat of an encirclement of Bakhmut from the north to the south remained, but the pressure on the city was easing.