Zelenskyy holds meeting with military chiefs in Kharkiv amid tense combat situation

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday held a meeting with military commanders in the city of Kharkiv amid tense combat situation in the surrounding area.

The military chiefs analyzed the possible developments in the battlefield, threats, and capabilities to counter Russian offensive plans, Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram.

"I heard a detailed report by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, commanders of the Khortytsya special unit Yuri Sodol and the Kharkiv unit Mikhail Drapaty. The operational situation, tasks, and needs of each involved brigade, each unit, in particular in the Kharkiv region, in the districts of Volchansk and Lipetsk were discussed," he said.

According to Zelenskyy, the situation in the Kharkiv region is "generally controlled," but "the direction remains extremely difficult."

He said intelligence also briefed him on Russia's planned actions and proposed countermeasures.

"A plan of further actions has been defined - both for the Kharkiv regional government and for all structures responsible for security in the region," he said.

Separately, Zelenskyy told Western media if Ukraine does not get two Patriot air defense systems in the coming days, it may lose Kharkiv.

Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine has been ongoing since February 2022.