Blinken Applauds Ukraine’s ‘Extraordinary Resilience’ Amid Russia’s Ongoing Offensive

Before ending his unexpected two-day tour, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a visit to the Chernigiv area on Thursday and commended Ukraine’s “extraordinary resilience” against Russian aggression.

Blinken saw the Russian military’ captivity of scores of locals, including elderly people and children, in Yagidne’s school basement during the visit.

This is only one building, but we’ve heard this tale before, said Blinken.

But we are also seeing another really potent thing: the remarkable tenacity of the Ukrainian people.

Soon after the conflict began, Russian soldiers captured parts of the Chernigiv area, including Yagidne.

On March 30, 2022, Ukrainian troops recovered Yagidne after they retreated after approximately a month, however the Russian army had left cities extensively mined and devastated.

Up to a third of Ukraine’s area, according to Blinken, is now affected by mines or explosive ordnance.

But Ukrainians are banding together to clear the area of explosives and weapons in order to reclaim it, according to Blinken.

Blinken afterwards accompanied Prime Minister Denys Shmygal on a tour to a hydroelectric facility before departing Kyiv in the early evening.