Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visits troops in Kharkiv in his first

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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visits troops in Kharkiv to hand out bravery medals as he makes his first official appearance outside Kyiv since the start of Russia's invasion

• The leader has been based in Kyiv since Putin's full-scale attack on February 24
• Zelensky wore a bullet-proof vest as he thanked the soldiers for their service
• In a video, Ukrainian troops showed Zelensky destroyed trucks in the region
• He met local officials, including the mayor, to discuss reconstruction programs

By JONATHAN ROSE FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 00:04 AEST, 30 May 2022 | UPDATED: 00:51 AEST, 30 May 2022

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky visited troops in the country's war-ridden east marking his first official appearance outside Kyiv since the start of the Russian invasion.

On a trip to the Kharkiv region, from where Moscow has retreated in recent weeks, Zelensky handed out bravery medals.

He told troops: 'I want to thank each of you for your service. You risk your life for all of us and our state.'

The Ukrainian leader has been based in Kyiv since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale attack on February 24.

Zelensky's office posted a video on Telegram of him wearing a bullet-proof vest in surroundings with heavily destroyed buildings.

'2,229 buildings have been destroyed in Kharkiv and the region. We will restore, rebuild and bring back life,' the post said.

'In Kharkiv and all other towns and villages where evil came.'

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the country's war-ridden east for the first time since the Russian invasion

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On a trip to the Kharkiv region, from where Moscow has retreated in recent weeks, Mr Zelensky handed out bravery medals

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He told troops: 'I want to thank each of you for your service. You risk your life for all of us and our state'

In the video, Ukrainian soldiers showed Zelensky destroyed trucks on the side of a road going through a field.

'In this war, the occupiers are trying to squeeze out at least some result,' Zelensky said in a later post.

'But they should have understood long ago that we will defend our land to the last man. They have no chance. We will fight and we will definitely win.'

He also met local officials - the governor of Khariv region and the mayor of the city, Igor Terekhov - to discuss reconstruction programs for the region.

He called on them to 'find cool projects' to rebuild destroyed areas.

'This is a chance for such districts to have a new face,' Zelensky said.

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The Ukrainian leader has been based in Kyiv since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale attack on February 24

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Zelensky's office posted a video on Telegram of him wearing a bullet-proof vest in surroundings with heavily destroyed buildings

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In the video, Ukrainian soldiers showed Zelensky destroyed trucks on the side of a road going through a field

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He also met local officials - the governor of Khariv region and the mayor of the city - to discuss reconstruction programs for the region. Pictured speaking to Kharkiv's Mayor Igor Terekhov (L)

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He called on them to 'find cool projects' to rebuild destroyed areas

It comes as Putin has reportedly been given just three to years to live as Russian intelligence sources become increasingly worried about their ailing leader.

An FSB officer described the Russian president's condition as a 'severe form of rapidly progressing cancer', as speculation ramped up that Putin was suffering with some form of serious illness amid the invasion of Ukraine.

The spy explained the wartime leader has 'no more than two to three years' left and he is also losing his sight, reports the Mirror.

News of the Russian leader's terminal illness emerged as part of a secret message from the Russian agent to fugitive and former FSB agent Boris Karpichkov.

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'This is a chance for such districts to have a new face,' Zelensky said

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Zelensky signing a national flag during his visit in Kharkiv, Ukraine

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Zelensky visited the frontline positions in the east of the country and presented state awards to the military during a working trip to the Kharkiv region

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'In this war, the occupiers are trying to squeeze out at least some result,' Zelensky said in a later post

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'But they should have understood long ago that we will defend our land to the last man. They have no chance. We will fight and we will definitely win'

The message warned Putin is refusing to wear glasses over fears it would admit a form of weakness, and he is now lashing out at his subordinates with 'uncontrolled fury'.

The developments come as news of his deteriorating health continues to leak out of Russia from a Telegram channel which claims to have sources inside the Kremlin.

Putin reportedly underwent 'successful' cancer surgery this month and is recovering following advice from medics that treatment was 'essential', according to Telegram channel General SVR.

The news emerged just hours before Putin appeared on state TV meeting with ally Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi, when he was caught on camera awkwardly twisting his feet while the pair sat down for talks.

It is the second time Putin has been filmed making the odd movement, which was caught on camera during a meeting with Tajikistan's president a week ago, and comes off the back of rumours that he is suffering Parkinson's.

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Rumours have been circling for years that Putin (pictured gripping table during a meeting last month) has health problems, and they have intensified since he launched invasion of Ukraine

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Other spooks have also hinted at the strongman's poor health condition, warning he was unable to maintain concentration for long periods of time without taking breaks 'for treatment'

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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visits troops in Kharkiv in his first appearance outside Kyiv