Putin and Zelensky visit their troops as frontline fighting heats up

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky both recently visited their troops, but only one of them risked their life to make the trip to the frontlines. 

Dressed in his typical casual wartime fashion, President Zelensky traveled on April 18th to the frontlines in war-torn Avdiivka—a city less than five miles away from Russian-occupied territory in Donetsk according to The Kiyv Independent’s Alexander Khrebet.

While in Avdiivka, Zelensky handed out medals and state honors to the men and women risking their lives for Ukraine, something he’s done several times throughout the war. 

“I wish you nothing but victory—something that every Ukrainian desires and which holds great importance for all of us," Zelensky told his soldiers according to a press release. 

“I wish good health to all of you and your families, and I am sincerely grateful on behalf of every Ukrainian for the great path that you overcome every day," Zelensky added. 

Avdiivka has been at the forefront of the war in Ukraine ever since conflict broke out between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian Government in early 2014. 

According to Khrebet, Adiivka is also one of Russia’s primary goals in Donetsk Oblast and they have already been able to capture roughly half of the city since the invasion began. 

“In March, Russian troops made substantial gains on the southern and northern flanks of Avdiivka,” Kherbet wrote. “Since then, Ukraine's military has stabilized defense lines near the city, with little territory changing hands.”

Regardless of the situation in Avdiivka upon Zelensky’s arrival, his presence in the embattled Ukrainian city put him at great personal risk, a risk which stands in stark contrast to the few hazards Putin’s visit posed when he traveled to occupied Kherson. 

“There are no safe routes out of the town, but Ukrainian forces still control the routes to the west,” a CNN report on the visit read. "The town is under fire almost daily by Russian artillery, but Ukrainian defenses have largely endured, despite marginal advances.”

Unlike Zelensky’s visit to the frontline, President Putin opted to travel to a coastal area far from the front known as Henichensk according to Kathryn Armstrong of BBC News. Henichesk is the new capital of Kherson Oblast, close to northern Crimea and on the Sea of Azov. 

Armstrong added that Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said Putin visited military commanders on April 17th, but noted that footage posted on the Kremlin’s website contradicted the claim with Putin saying in the clip that Easter was “coming up.” 

Other evidence that Putin’s visit might have been partially staged could be found in his wardrobe change. When Putin spoke with his commanders he was in a suit and tie but later in the video, he can be seen in a dark sports jacket and black turtleneck.

“Surprisingly, during the trip, Putin was first in a shirt and tie, and then in a black turtleneck,” said journalist Dmitry Kolezev according to The Daily Mail, who added: “Either he likes to change clothes so much, or they filmed on different days.”

Putin spoke with his commanders about the situation in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and told them it was “important for me to hear your opinion on how the situation is developing, to listen to you, to exchange information.”

The contrast between Putin’s business-like meetings in Henichesk versus Zelensky’s treacherous visit to Avdiivka couldn’t provide a better symbol for the war in Ukraine. 

One leader was willing to risk his life to boost the morale of his soldiers in an embattled city, while the other may have been lying about his visit…

Screenshot from Kremlin.ru