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Ukraine war: Zelensky visits ruined frontline city of Bakhmut Ukraine war: Zelensky visits ruined frontline near Bakhmut
(about 1 hour later)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the frontline city of Bakhmut where fierce fighting rages on. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the frontline near Bakhmut where fierce fighting rages on.
The beleaguered city has become a focal point of the war, with Russia trying to capture it for months.The beleaguered city has become a focal point of the war, with Russia trying to capture it for months.
The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Ukrainian forces recently launched a counter-attack to the west of the city.The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Ukrainian forces recently launched a counter-attack to the west of the city.
Mr Zelensky's visit comes after Russian forces attacked Ukrainian cities overnight, killing at least four people in a drone strike near the capital.Mr Zelensky's visit comes after Russian forces attacked Ukrainian cities overnight, killing at least four people in a drone strike near the capital.
In a statement, the presidential office says Mr Zelensky spoke to servicemen at the frontline positions of his military in Bakhmut and thanked them for their efforts to defend Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader thanked troops around Bakhmut for their defence of the city and country, a statement said.
"I am honoured to be here today," the Ukrainian president told his servicemen, "in the east of our country, in Donbas, and to award our heroes, to thank you, to shake your hands.""I am honoured to be here today," the Ukrainian president told his servicemen, "in the east of our country, in Donbas, and to award our heroes, to thank you, to shake your hands."
Bakhmut lies in ruins. For more than seven months, it has witnessed fierce fighting as Russian forces try to make territorial gains to please the Kremlin.Bakhmut lies in ruins. For more than seven months, it has witnessed fierce fighting as Russian forces try to make territorial gains to please the Kremlin.
Why Bakhmut matters for Russia and UkraineWhy Bakhmut matters for Russia and Ukraine
The MoD said the counter-attack to the west of Bakhmut was likely to relieve pressure on the main Ukrainian supply route to the city. The MoD said Ukraine's counter-attack to the west of Bakhmut was likely to relieve pressure on the main supply route to the city - and said Russia's attack on the city could be losing momentum.
"Fighting continues around the town centre and the Ukrainian defence remains at risk from envelopment from the north and south," the statement added."Fighting continues around the town centre and the Ukrainian defence remains at risk from envelopment from the north and south," the statement added.
"However, there is a realistic possibility that the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained, partially because some Russian [military] units have been reallocated to other sectors.""However, there is a realistic possibility that the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained, partially because some Russian [military] units have been reallocated to other sectors."
Earlier, Mr Zelensky said Moscow had launched more than 20 "killer drones", as well as missiles and shells.Earlier, Mr Zelensky said Moscow had launched more than 20 "killer drones", as well as missiles and shells.
Drone strikes on a residential area of Kyiv region hit upper floors of two student dormitories in the city of Rzhyshchiv. An 11-year-old was among the wounded, rescue services said. Drone strikes on a residential area of Kyiv region hit upper floors of two student dormitories in the city of Rzhyshchiv. Four people were killed and an 11-year-old was among the wounded, rescue services said. A three-storey school building was also hit.
Meanwhile officials said a person had died and 25 more were injured in the south-eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, which was also hit.
In a tweet, Mr Zelensky said residential areas in Zaporizhzhia were being targeted and it could not become "just another day" in Ukraine or the rest of the world.
Watch: Apartment block hit by Russian missiles in Zaporizhzhia
Watch: Apartment block hit by Russian missiles in Zaporizhzhia
Ukraine's military said 16 of the 21 drones launched on Wednesday from the Bryansk region of Russia, north of Ukraine's border, were shot down.
Referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping's departure from Russia hours earlier, the Ukrainian leader said that every time "someone tries to hear the word 'peace' in Moscow", another order was given to launch attacks.Referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping's departure from Russia hours earlier, the Ukrainian leader said that every time "someone tries to hear the word 'peace' in Moscow", another order was given to launch attacks.
On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin said that many provisions of a 12-point Chinese peace plan "can be taken as the basis for [the] settling of the conflict in Ukraine, whenever the West and Kyiv are ready for it".On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin said that many provisions of a 12-point Chinese peace plan "can be taken as the basis for [the] settling of the conflict in Ukraine, whenever the West and Kyiv are ready for it".
The plan makes no specific proposals and does not call explicitly for Russian forces to leave Ukraine's sovereign territory.The plan makes no specific proposals and does not call explicitly for Russian forces to leave Ukraine's sovereign territory.
Watch: Putin and Xi's 'Dear friendship'... in 62 seconds
Watch: Putin and Xi's 'Dear friendship'... in 62 seconds
Ukraine's state emergency service said at least four people were missing in the rubble of the dormitory buildings hit by Russian drones in Rzhyshchiv. A three-floor high school building was also hit.
In a separate Russian attack, three people were wounded in the southern city of Odesa, when a three-storey building was hit in the grounds of a monastery, presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said.
Drones were also fired at the north-western region of Zhytomyr, but no-one was reported hurt. Ukraine's military said 16 of the 21 drones launched on Wednesday from the Bryansk region of Russia, north of Ukraine's border, were shot down.
Air raid sirens rang out across Ukraine hours afterwards, amid reports that Russian warplanes carrying long-range missiles had taken to the air.
Separately, officials in Russian-annexed Crimea said a Ukrainian drone attack on their fleet were repulsed.Separately, officials in Russian-annexed Crimea said a Ukrainian drone attack on their fleet were repulsed.
Explosions were reported by residents in the port city of Sevastopol.Explosions were reported by residents in the port city of Sevastopol.
The head of Russia's occupation authority Mikhail Razvozhaev said three "objects" targeting the Black Sea Fleet had been destroyed and Russian warships were not damaged.The head of Russia's occupation authority Mikhail Razvozhaev said three "objects" targeting the Black Sea Fleet had been destroyed and Russian warships were not damaged.
There was no comment from Ukraine's military, which said earlier this week it had destroyed missiles destined for the fleet at a rail hub in Dzhankoi in northern Crimea.There was no comment from Ukraine's military, which said earlier this week it had destroyed missiles destined for the fleet at a rail hub in Dzhankoi in northern Crimea.
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