The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, during his address to the nation on Tuesday evening, said that he was in Bakhmut, which is an impregnable fortress, to express his gratitude to the fighters who protect not only Donbas, but also the whole of Ukraine. He asked to support Bakhmut and his defenders, News.ro reports.

“I returned from the Donetsk region, from our fortress Bakhmut. I was there today to support our fighters, to reward them, to express my gratitude. To all our heroes – those who protect not only Bakhmut, and not only our Donbas, but all of Ukraine .We should all understand this.

On the way to the front, we also passed through Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka… Cities and villages near them, which are now literally fighting for their lives. Life is for all of us – for all Ukrainians and everything Ukrainian, and also – for everyone and everyone who preserves humanity in themselves.

Look at Russia’s offensive, what it leaves behind. Burned earth, destroyed life… Pain, ruins and graves – this is the so-called “Russian peace”. Our heroes stop there. This is exactly what they are expelling from Ukraine, step by step returning life to our land, where the occupiers set foot. And for this movement to exist, for our border to exist, for us to return the Ukrainian flag to the cities and villages of the south and east of our state, there is Bakhmut, there is a fortress, there are our heroic defenders.

Every day they endured there, every blow they endured there, every attack they repulsed and every counterattack they carried out is life for Ukraine. Thank you to all our soldiers who defend the fortress of #bahmut! I am grateful to all fathers and mothers, wives and children of our heroes who are saving Ukraine right here! And I am asking all of our people: wherever you are, please support the Ukrainian heroes who are resisting the fiercest attacks of the occupiers, against the most furious Russian strikes… Support Bakhmut – ragged but not defeated – and his defenders.

We will do everything possible and impossible, expected and unexpected, so that our heroes have everything they need to win. Get the results that all Ukrainians expect. What all our frontline towns and villages are waiting for. This is Maryinka, this is Vugledar, this is Toretsk, this is Soledar, Klishchiivka… This is our Luhansk region, this is our south of Ukraine, this is our Crimea. Ukraine will not leave anything that belongs to the enemy,” said the Ukrainian leader.

He emphasized that this week is very important for Ukraine.

“This week is extremely important for Ukraine – to survive this winter and next year. To get the necessary support and for the Ukrainian flag to finally reign on all sections of our border – the border of Ukraine. Our fighters handed me our flag today And they asked me to hand it over to those whose decision are very important for Ukraine, for all our soldiers. We will definitely do it. We will definitely get the necessary support for Ukraine!” Zelenskyy said.