President Zelensky visits Kharkiv in first trip outside Kyiv region

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited troops in the Kharkiv region, on the country's battered eastern front line

Prezident Volodymyr Zelensky was pictured in a bullet-proof vest surveying ruins in Kharkiv city, Qazet.az reports.

Russia has resumed shelling Kharkiv in recent days after a fortnight of comparative quiet.

The city faced intense bombardment in the war's first months, with images showing tower blocks flattened to rubble.

Russian troops were gradually pushed back from its surrounding towns during April and May, prompting some who had fled Kharkiv to return, and the metro to reopen for the first time since the invasion.

But the city remains within range of Russian artillery. Several loud explosions were heard in the city after Mr Zelensky's visit.

President Zelensky's office posted a video on Telegram with the caption: 

"2,229 buildings have been destroyed in Kharkiv and the region. We will restore, rebuild and bring back life. In Kharkiv and all other towns and villages where evil came."

The president also visited the city of Kharkiv, which was bombarded day and night in the war's early months

The footage featured Ukrainian soldiers giving Mr Zelensky a tour of the damage wrought by the war, including broken down military vehicles by the side of a road.

"In this war, the occupiers are trying to squeeze out at least some result," Zelensky posted later.

"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."