Zelenskiy commemorates ordeal of villagers held captive in basement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a visit to the village of Yahidne, Chernihiv region, Ukraine April 3, 2023. REUTERS/Alina Yarysh

YAHIDNE, Ukraine (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday paid tribute to the courage of nearly 400 residents of a village in north Ukraine who were held in a school basement under Russian occupation for 27 days before they were set free a year ago.

The Ukrainian leader travelled to Yahidne, where he gave an emotional speech recalling how villagers were kept captive in a space less than 200 square metres during the first month of Russia's February 2022 invasion.