VOLODYMYR Zelensky poses for a selfie with soldiers as he praised their “historic” efforts defending the city of Bakhmut from Russia.
The lionhearted leader said he "bowed low before all the heroes” on a morale boosting visit to soldiers near the eastern front.
He added: "Your fate is so difficult, yet so historic.
“To defend our land and to return everything to Ukraine for our children.”
The commander of Ukraine’s land forces General Oleksandr Syrski said his troops had shown “superhuman bravery”.
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He also said Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries who had led the assault on Bakhmut were “taking considerable losses and running out of breath.”
He added: “Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past.”
The UK’s Defence Intelligence agency said: “There is a realistic possibility that the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained."
The UK said some Russian troops supporting Wagner's attack had been ordered to relocate.