On August 25, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, together with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapaty, visited the front line on the Aleksandrivka direction, where he personally met with servicemembers and commanders of airborne assault units. This was announced by the head of state himself in his Telegram channel, according to RBC-Ukraine. During the visit, the president thanked the fighters for their service and awarded state decorations of Ukraine to enlisted personnel and commanders.
Operations on the Aleksandrivka Direction
The president and the Commander-in-Chief worked in a sector where, according to official data, Ukrainian Armed Forces counteroffensive operations have been ongoing since the beginning of the year. Zelensky met with servicemembers of the 80th Separate Halychyna Airborne Assault Brigade, as well as with fighters of the 95th Separate Polissya Airborne Assault Brigade, who are carrying out tasks in the same direction. According to the president, both brigades have made a significant contribution to the defense of the country, and their personnel were honored with state awards.
What Specifically the Brigades Are Requesting
In meetings with commanders, the combat needs of the units and ways to strengthen their defense were discussed. Among the specific military requests were the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles, long-range artillery, and small radar stations. The issues of direct funding of the brigades, combating unauthorized desertion from units, as well as the training and rewarding of servicemembers were also raised separately. "We will work through everything. We need to strengthen our defenders as much as possible," Zelensky stated.
Meeting with Airborne Assault Commanders
In addition, the head of state spoke with the commanders of brigades and battalions of the airborne assault forces. The key topics of the conversation were recruiting, mobilization, the involvement of foreign volunteers, and the supply of units with the necessary weapons and equipment, including electronic warfare systems. Zelensky emphasized that the forces face the task of further accelerating the tempo of the offensive: "Brave, strong, and absolutely honest warriors who look at the enemy, are not afraid, and know that they need to destroy more – then Ukraine will win."
Context: Dynamics at the Front
As Ukrainian official sources remind, Ukrainian Armed Forces counteroffensive operations on the Aleksandrivka direction have been underway since the beginning of 2026. Over this period, according to Kyiv's statement, Ukrainian military have liberated 26 settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, and approximately 745 square kilometers of territory have returned under Ukrainian control. These figures are cited in the president's message and were not independently verified at the time of publication.
