Zelensky makes surprise visit to Odesa region

On June 18, President Volodymyr Zelensky made an unannounced visit to a military base in the Odesa region.

His Office reported that the Ukrainian leader inspected the base and training center for National Guard soldiers. He discssed the situation with military and police chiefs and later visited a military hospital.

As Supreme Commander-in-Chief he also awarded state awards to heroic militants of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“I want to thank you on behalf of the people of Ukraine, our state, for the great work you are doing, for your heroic and impeccable service. It is important that you are alive. As long as you are alive, there is a strong Ukrainian wall protecting our country. I wish your families good health,” Zelensky told those assembled.

Maksym Marchenko, the head of the Regional Military Administration, briefed the participants about the measures to defend the region. He said that due to the Russian naval blockade, 39 merchant ships under the flags of 14 countries are still blocked in the local ports.

Among topics discussed was also ways to organise a corridor to export agro-industrial products from the ports of the Odesa region.

The commander of the Naval Forces Oleksiy Neizhpapa reported on the situation at sea and on the provision of units of the Ukrainian Navy.

The participants meeting also discussed harvesting in the region and measures to provide farmers with machinery and fuel. Also, the activity of regional industrial enterprises during the war.

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The results of enemy missile strikes on the region were analysed. As a result of the bombardment, 55 civilians have been injured and some infrastructure facilities destroyed.

Zelensky inspected the Odesa residential complex in Tairova district damaged by a rocket on April 23. Eight people were killed by that attack.

“This is a terrible, heinous crime, the aggressor kills and maims our people. We must restore this house so that the residents return to their homes,” the president stressed.

President Zelensjy then made a similar working vididt to the neighboring southern Mulolaiv region.

“We will not give away the south to anyone, we will return everything that’s ours and the sea will be Ukrainian and safe,” he said the following day  in his nightly address.