President Zelensky Finds Frontline: "Will Not Yield Southern Region to Anyone"

President Volodymyr Zelensky visiting Mykolaiv, Ukraine.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the 18th (local time) that he will reclaim the southern region of Ukraine controlled by Russian forces.

According to major foreign media on the 18th (local time), President Zelensky, after visiting Mykolaiv in the south, which has suffered severe war damage, emphasized in a video speech, "We will not give the southern region to anyone." This is the first time President Zelensky has visited Mykolaiv since the war broke out on February 24.

President Zelensky also stressed, "We will take back everything that belongs to us." He added that he will do everything possible to resume food exports through the southern ports.

Analysts interpret President Zelensky's visit to Mykolaiv as a demonstration of the Ukrainian military's will to resist. The video shows President Zelensky touring residential buildings throughout Mykolaiv. He also visited the regional government office, where 37 people died in a Russian missile attack last March.

Additionally, President Zelensky awarded medals to Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych, Governor Vitalii Kim, who is of Korean descent, and soldiers.

Mykolaiv is a strategic key point connected to the Black Sea and has been one of the main targets of Russian forces since the beginning of the war. In early March, Russian forces advanced to the outskirts of Mykolaiv but retreated after a counterattack by Ukrainian forces.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.