President Zelenskyy: We’re conducting counteroffensive operation in Donetsk region

“Ukraine is rightfully defending its positions and its land. And this is a heroic defense,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a traditional address to the Ukrainian nation on Sept. 18.

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today, I’m in the Donetsk region – Kramatorsk, Slovyansk, our combat brigades – communicating with our warriors. I presented state awards, specifically for their achievements in battle, to the finest of our warriors, those who have excelled most in recent weeks. We are now conducting one of our counteroffensive operations in the Donetsk direction – and our guys are performing brilliantly – in the Pokrovsk and Dobropillia areas. The fighting is intense, but we have inflicted significant losses on the Russians. In effect, our forces are depriving the occupiers of the ability to carry out the full-scale offensive in this direction that they had long planned and relied on. Their first attempt was in the Sumy region; now it’s here – Ukrainian units are delivering results for Ukraine. I thank everyone involved. The operation continues as we planned. This is an important success for Ukraine. I thank the Airborne Forces, assault regiments and battalions, all our infantry, intelligence, and artillery personnel, and National Guard units. I thank everyone who is ensuring the unmanned systems component.

Full text of the address: Office of the President of Ukraine