President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, in his video address to his compatriots on Sunday evening, said that over the past week there has been progress in the counteroffensive launched three months ago and criticized by some Western media for its too slow pace and lack of noticeable results.

“We have seen progress in the last seven days. There is traffic in the Tavrida area (from the south – no). There is movement in the Bakhmut area (no in the east),” Zelenskyy said.

He also reported that in the directions of Kupyansk and Lyman, Avdiivka and Maryinka, where the Russian army is shelling, the Ukrainians manage to hold their positions.

“I am grateful to all the soldiers who make this happen! Every week, the initiative is always in the hands of our soldiers, and Ukraine is leading,” the president said.

He emphasized the need for heroism, because “the end of this war depends only on Ukrainian heroism. We all have to remember this,” Zelensky said.

In the second part of his speech, Zelenskyi considered the Russian attacks that took place in the last week, which led to casualties and destruction, the opportunity to thank all those who helped overcome the consequences and save people, especially in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Odesa. regions

He cited examples of people who excelled in these efforts. For example, paramedic Ruslan Gubanov saved the wounded and pulled people out from under the rubble, in total 82 people were saved after shelling Kostyanivka. Another paramedic, Oleg Syzov, saved 153 people during his service, Zelenskyi noted.

“Imagine how many lives have been saved thanks to one person. Thanks Oleg! Police captain Olena Vasylenko goes to the places of terrorist attacks, documents the consequences of the explosions and helps the wounded. She herself was under artillery fire, was wounded and returned to the formation. Thank you, Elena!” Zelenskyi continued.

He also gave the following examples of rescuers who acted after this week’s terrorist attack in Kryvyi Rih, which left one dead and 60 injured, from Sumy, as well as from the cities of Kilia and Reni, Odesa Region, located on the border with Romania. , which were also bombed.

“I also thank every Ukrainian doctor, every nurse, every paramedic and all Ukrainian front-line doctors who are saving the lives of our people and returning their strength to Ukrainians! This is really great work,” said Zelensky.

He concluded his speech by recalling an attack this weekend near the town of Chesiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, in which an anti-tank missile hit a vehicle carrying foreign aid workers. Zelenskyi said that the death of a Canadian citizen and a possibly murdered Spanish woman had been confirmed, while a German and a Swede were being treated in Dnipro hospitals. “This Russian bombing once again confirms how close the war against Ukraine is to all those in the world who truly value human life and who believe that it is the common moral duty of humanity to stop terror and defeat evil,” Zelenskyi said.

“Thank you to everyone in the world who helps Ukraine to endure and protect life! We will definitely win!”, the president concluded.