Ukrainian President Zelenskyy vows to defend the country's south as war enters day 116

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to defend country's south in an dress recorded on his way back from a visit to regions of Mykolaiv and Odesa along Black Sea.

Speaking from train, Zelenskyy said "we will not give away south to anyone, we will return everything that's ours and sea will be Ukrainian and safe".

"We will definitely restore everything that was destroyed," Zelenskyy said, ding that "Russia does not have as many missiles as our people have a desire to live."

He also condemned Russian blocke of Ukraine's ports as weeks of negotiations on safe corridors to get grain out have me little progress, with urgency rising as summer harvest season arrives.

"Our position is clear and unchanged, as soon as we can ensure security through international mediation, Ukraine will do everything possible to counter food crisis," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy met with regional leers in Mykolaiv and Odesa and went with m to see buildings that h been destroyed in Russian attacks that took lives of many civilians.

He also visited hospital workers and troops, handing out awards to dozens of people at every stop.