Ukraine’s President visited the location of the 65th separate mechanized brigade, where he talked to the defenders, thanked them and presented state awards.

“It is an honour to be here today. To support the soldiers and award them. They have a difficult, decisive mission – to repel the adversary and defend Ukraine. We are proud of our soldiers, we thank everyone,” added Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Robotyne is the first Ukrainian breakthrough in the Russian defense line in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The small village with a pre-war population of about 500 people in the Polohivskyi district was liberated on August 28, 2023.

The liberation of the small village was seen as an important step in a counteroffensive aimed at cutting the land bridge between Russia and Crimea, and thus pinning down Russian troops in the occupied territories in the south of the country.