Zelensky Visits Kharkiv Front, Warns of Foreign Fighters With Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he travelled to the front-line area in the northeastern Kharkiv region on 4 August, highlighting ongoing combat in one of the war’s most contested sectors. He met troops deployed near the border with Russia and received briefings on the operational situation, according to statements released after the visit. Speaking from the front, Zelensky alleged that Russia is employing foreign mercenaries alongside its regular forces, reiterating Kyiv’s call for sustained international support. The Ukrainian leader’s surprise trip underscores the strategic importance of Kharkiv, which has faced repeated missile and artillery attacks since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.