Zelenskyy hails 'strength and motivation' of troops during frontline Bakhmut visit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited frontline troops in the eastern city of Bakhmut, where some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks in Ukraine has taken place.

Zelenskyy's office released on Tuesday (December 20) video footage showing Zelenskiy, dressed in khaki, handing out medals to soldiers to loud applause from others fighting Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

The president thanked them for their "strength and motivation" and held a moment's silence for lives lost, as audible explosions could be heard booming in the distance.

The battle for Bakhmut has been long and hard. Control of the city, with a pre-war population of 70,000-80,000, could give Russia a stepping stone to advance on bigger Ukrainian cities but Ukrainian forces have so far held on.

The 10-month-old conflict in Ukraine, the largest in Europe since World War Two, has killed tens of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes and reduced cities to ruins.