The president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has paid a rare visit to the southern cities of Mykolaiv and Odesa, outside of the capital Kyiv, BBC reported .
According to his office, Zelensky toured damaged structures and talked with soldiers, officials, and health personnel.
Russian forces attempting to seize the Black Sea coast have targeted both cities as vital targets.
The Russian offensive has been aimed at capturing the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine for weeks.
The Ukrainian president has met with a number of Western leaders who visit the capital, Kyiv, on a regular basis.
He has, however, disobeyed Russian soldiers by entering places where fighting is happening.
“Take care of Ukraine – the only thing we have,” Zelensky told Ukrainian troops on the front lines during his most recent tour, according to his office.
On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine, claiming it wanted to “de-Nazify” and “demilitarise” its former Soviet neighbour.
According to the UN, more than 4,500 civilians have been murdered and nearly 5,600 have been injured as a result of the violent battle that followed. On both sides, tens of thousands of combatants have been killed or injured.
According to the United Nations, more than 13 million people have abandoned their homes.
The West has retaliated against the invasion by placing harsh penalties on Moscow and giving weaponry to Ukraine, but it has not involved directly in the conflict with Russia, a nuclear powerhouse.
Russia is likely to restart its efforts to expand into the Donetsk region, which, along with Luhansk, makes up the Donbas, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
