Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits retaken city of Izium

On the northern outskirts of Izium, the remains of Russian tanks and vehicles lie shattered along the road

Ukrainian President Vilodymir Zelenskyyy takes part in a national flag-raising ceremony in Izium, Ukraine (Leo Correa/AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the recently retaken city of Izium as the country’s flag was raised in front of the burned-out city hall building.

Russian forces left the war-scarred city last week as Ukraine pressed forward in a sweeping counter-offensive that has reclaimed vast swaths of territory in the country’s north-eastern Kharkiv region in a matter of days.