Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a bold visit on Wednesday to the recently liberated city of Izyum, in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region, where he participated in a flag-raising ceremony to mark the nation’s most important military victory since Russian invaders were repelled from the suburbs of Kyiv in late March.

Zelensky, striking a resolute tone, said that while Russia might temporarily occupy parts of Ukraine, “it is definitely impossible to occupy our people, the Ukrainian people.”

“The heroes are here,” Zelensky said, describing the significance of the blue-and-yellow banner. “It means that the enemy is gone, ran away.”The swift and remarkably successful counteroffensive that liberated Izyum and towns and villages throughout the Kharkiv region, has proved to be both a crucial military victory as well as a psychological triumph, lifting national spirits, reinforcing Ukraine’s international support and sparking calls for additional weapons and equipment, in hopes of capitalizing on what seems to be a turning point in the nearly seven-month war.

Putin, tone deaf and isolated, pursues war ‘goals’ and refuses to lose

Western military and intelligence analysts say Russia’s forces appear to be severely depleted, largely incapable of offensive operations to retake ground, and potentially vulnerable to further attacks. Ukraine’s military, in turn, seems intent on pressing its counteroffensive in the east and the south.

thank all of you for liberating our state from the enemy — from the terrorists of the Russian Federation and from the traitors who betrayed our state with the bills of artificial republics,” Zelensky said, addressing Ukrainian soldiers.

“The last few months have been extremely difficult for you. Therefore, I am asking you: Take care of yourself; you are the most precious we have,” he said.

Zelensky’s visit, appearing in army fatigues and standing in front of a burned building with the windows blown out, was one of his many combat-zone trips that have provided a contrast between the youthful Ukrainian leader and the aging Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who calls the war a “special military operation” and has not visited his soldiers in the field.

Zelensky said Tuesday that Ukraine had recaptured just over 3,0oo square miles during offensives in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Zelensky’s precise territorial claims could not be verified, but the Russian Defense Ministry has acknowledge a major retreat, which it called a decision to “regroup.”