"This Russian evil must be defeated as soon as possible," Zelenskiy said, describing it as a deliberate attack on a "peaceful city". U.S. officials have not publicly criticised Ukraine's military tactics, and last week said they had seen progress in the southeast. [1/6]Police officers and rescuers carry the body of a person killed by a Russian military strike in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, September 6, 2023. Blinken's visit coincided with Ukraine's parliament approving the appointment of Rust Umerov as defence minister following the dismissal of Oleksii Reznikov. During his train ride to Kyiv, Blinken held talks with Danish Prime Minister Mettle Fredericks, who was visiting the same day.

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Persons: Blinken, Zelenskiy, Ivan Lyubysh, Antony Blinken, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Dmytro Kuleba, Kuleba, Abrams, Larine Jean, Pierre said, Dmitry Peso, Diana Khodak, Khodak, Rust, Oleksii Reznikov, Mettle Fredericks, Fredericks, Humeyra Pamuk, Tom Balmforth, Ron Popeski, Philippa Fletcher, Timothy Heritage, Angus MacSwan, Peter Graff, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Kirdey, U.S, Kyiv, Ukraine's Foreign, Ukrainian, White, Pentagon, Police, Press, Interior Ministry of, REUTERS Acquire, European Union, Reuters, Danish, State Department, Republican, Thomson Locations: Kyiv Ukraine, Kirdey KYIV, Ukraine, U.S, Kostiantynivka, Bakhmut, Russia, Russian, Donetsk region, Interior Ministry of Ukraine, Handout, Moscow, Washington, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Blinken's, Denmark, Netherlands