Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have visited hotspots in the war-torn country in recent days. On Monday Putin visited the annexed regions of Kherson and Lugansk which Russian claims but only partly controls. Putin talked with regional military commanders during his visit and got first-hand information on the current situation. A day after Putin’s visit, Zelensky visited Avdiivka, which has been heavily bombarded, and said to the soldiers there, “I have the honor to be here today, to thank you for your service, for defending our land, Ukraine, our families.” Both visits come as the Wagner mercenary outfit continues to make “creeping advances” in Bakhmut, according to British military intelligence. Much of the current fighting is centered around Bakhmut and the Donbas region.
