On Saturday evening, 8 July, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Lviv on his way back from Turkey. He was accompanied by the leaders of Azovstal's defenders, who had been in the country since their release from Russian captivity.

Relevant footage was posted online (to see photos and videos, scroll to the bottom of the page).

23:20. The Lviv Regional State Administration showed photos from the event.

"Today is 500 days and 9 years of our resilience! These are 500 days and 9 years that we are closer to victory! We will return everything and all our people! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to our unbreakable heroes in all directions!" the message reads.

23:00. The President and the Azovstal defenders leave Lviv.

22:50. In Lviv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces the appointment of a new head of the National Guard of Ukraine. The new commander is Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Pivnenko.

22:42. It has become known that the President gave a comment to the media together with the commanders before arriving at the Shevchenko monument.

Zelensky spoke about the events of that day and thanked everyone involved in bringing our heroes home from Turkey.

"I am deeply convinced that the army is a team effort. And from now on, we will continue to fight together. We will definitely have our say in the battle," said Denys Prokopenko (Redis).

22:38. Zelenskyy left the square after the prayer service, he did not speak, Babel reports.

22:30. The first photos of Azovstal's defence commanders in Lviv.

22:25. Prayer for the 500th day of the Great War has begun in Lviv.

"The heads of churches and religious communities of our country were also here. Together with the residents of the Lviv region, they prayed for the Ukrainian people, the army, victory and peace," the Lviv Regional Military Administration said.

The chamber choir performed a "Prayer for Ukraine", the OP reported.

"At the monument to Taras Shevchenko in Lviv, representatives of the clergy and leaders of religious organisations said prayers for Ukraine. They prayed for the victory of our state and a just peace. Spiritual leaders asked for intercession and strength for the defenders of our homeland, blessings for the Ukrainian authorities and salvation for all those affected by the war. They also prayed for the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity," the statement reads.

22:15. The first photos of the President in Lviv have appeared.

21:55. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal were seen at the scene.

21:45. In Lviv, people began to gather near the Shevchenko monument, and a stage was set up. Law enforcement officers were checking the entire surrounding area, and Svobody Avenue was blocked.

"The queue is long. They are letting people through very slowly," they wrote online.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL:

- On 8 July, on the 500th day of the full-scale war that Russia unleashed against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived on Zmiinyi Island, which has become a symbol of the indomitable nature of our people.

- The Ukrainian military, who led the defence of Azovstal in Mariupol in the spring of 2022, Denys Prokopenko, Svyatoslav Palamar, Serhiy Volynskyi, Oleh Khomenko and Denys Shleha, have returned to Ukraine. This was announced by Volodymyr Zelenskyy following his visit to Turkey.

Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!