Zelensky visits troops near Lyman and presents state awards

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday 30 September that he had visited troops at the front line near Lyman in eastern Ukraine. 1 2 He said he presented state awards to troops carrying out missions in the Lyman sector and spoke with the brigade commander about the unit's tasks. 1 According to Anadolu Agency, the visit was to the command post of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Donetsk region. 2

Zelensky said he held a coordination meeting with corps, brigade and battalion commanders, including on brigade-level defence procurement, first of all pickup trucks. 1 He said the brigade, working with other units of the Third Army Corps in Operation Vivaldi, had brought more than 125 square kilometres back under Ukrainian control; this is his account and Anadolu did not independently verify it. 2 Arab News describes Lyman as an embattled town where Ukraine has launched a counter-offensive against Russian forces. 1

Zelensky also said he spoke by phone with Finnish President Alexander Stubb about strengthening defences, including F-16 jets and air defence, after what he called a new escalation of attacks on Ukrainian cities. 2 Ukrainian officials reported at least four deaths in overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region, and the economy minister said air alerts cost about $45 million per hour of halted business. 2