STATUS UPDATE ON
THE KYIV AREA BATTLEFONT

OF THE WAR ON UKRAINE

KYIV

Kyiv is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. It is slightly larger than the city of Chicago in the U.S. Kyiv is an important industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center in Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions, and historical landmarks. Kyiv remains the centre of primary importance of Eastern Orthodox Christianity . Its sacred sites, which include the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (the Monastery of the Caves) and the Saint Sophia Cathedral are probably the most famous, attracted pilgrims for centuries and now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site remain the primary religious centres as well as the major tourist attraction.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and Ukrainian independence in 1991, Kyiv remained Ukraine's capital and experienced a steady influx of ethnic Ukrainian migrants from other regions of the country. During the country's transformation to a market economy and electoral democracy, Kyiv has continued to be Ukraine's largest and wealthiest city. Kyiv emerged as the most pro-Western region of Ukraine; with parties advocating tighter integration with the European Union dominate during elections.

The battle for Kyiv is crucial to the hopes of an independent and free nation of Ukraine.
Russia realizes this and has put the majority of their emphasis and military strength
toward the goal of capturing Kyiv and
topping and/or killing the countries governmental leaders.

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March 22 Update:

Explosions and bursts of gunfire shook Kyiv, and black smoke rose from a spot in the north. Intensified artillery fire could be heard from the northwest, where Russia has sought to encircle and capture several suburban areas of the capital, a crucial target. Kyiv sesidents sheltered at home or underground under a 35-hour curfew imposed by city authorities. Ukrainian troops drove Russian forces out of the Kyiv suburb of Makariv after a fierce battle, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said. The regained territory allowed Ukrainian forces to retake control of a key highway and block Russian troops from surrounding Kyiv from the northwest.

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On the morning of 24 February, Russian forces crossed the border into Ukraine from Belarus to the north. Russian artillery and missiles struck targets in regions surrounding including Kyiv's primary airport – Boryspil International Airport. Later in the day, Russian paratroopers landed at Hostomel Airport, beginning the Battle of Antonov Airport. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian paratroopers were later repelled by Ukrainian troops. Russian forces have also attempted landings in and around the Kyiv Reservoir.

On the night of 24 February, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that "subversive groups" were approaching Kyiv. At mid-morning, Russian saboteurs dressed as Ukrainian soldiers had entered Obolon District. Throughout the day during the Battle of Kyiv, gunfire was heard throughout several wards of the city; Ukrainian officials described the gunfire as arising from clashes with Russian troops.

According to Russia's Ministry of Defense, these Russian forces were able to advance and capture Hostomel Airport after a ground-based assault, creating a key landing zone for Russian forces just 6 miles from Kyiv. Zelenskyy urged citizens to fight back with Molotov cocktails. The reserve Territorial Defense Forces were activated to defend the capital. 18,000 guns were also distributed to residents of Kyiv who were willing to fight.

On the morning of 25 February, Ukrainian forces destroyed the bridge in Ivankiv crossing the Teteriv River, halting the advance of a Russian tank division heading towards Kyiv. Ukrainian airborne assault troops engaged Russian soldiers at Ivankiv and the nearby town of Dymer. Some Russian forces were able to break through Ivankiv and captured the strategically significant Antonov Airport after a skirmish. The airport is located just 20 miles northwest from Kyiv

In the early morning of 26 February, Russian paratroopers began landing in the city of Vasylkiv, just south of Kyiv, in order to capture the Vasylkiv Air Base. Despite Ukrainian anti-aircraft action, elements of Russian paratroopers were able to land to the south of Kyiv around Vasylkiv and made contact with troops of the home guard forces. Russian forces began formally assaulting Kyiv later in the early morning, bombarding the city with artillery and attempting to capture a power plant and army base within the city. Ukrainian forces were able to defend both objectives.

The Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant, located just north of the city in the suburb of Vyshhorod, was captured by Russian forces. On 26 February, Ukrainian forces recaptured the power plant. Ukrainian air defenses also allegedly intercepted a missile aimed for the plant. Interfax stated that if the plant's dam were to fail, flooding could destroy "the entire left bank of Kyiv".

In the early morning of 27 February, a Russian missile struck an oil depot in Vasylkiv, setting the facility ablaze. A radioactive waste disposal site near Kyiv was also hit by airstrikes, but the storage site itself escaped the impact. Later in the early morning, the Ukrainian army claimed to have destroyed a Kadyrovtsy convoy of 56 tanks in Hostomel. In the morning of 27 February, a Russian airstrike struck an apartment building in the small city of Bucha, located just south of Hostomel. Fighting was also reported in Bucha, and Ukrainian forces destroyed a bridge in the city to slow the advance of Russian forces. The mayor of the neighboring city of Irpin, later claimed that Ukrainian forces defeated the Russian forces attacking the city, after destroying the bridge between it and Bucha and trapping them. Later on 27 February, a large Russian convoy was seen on satellite images heading towards Ivankiv. The capture of Ivankiv by Russian forces was confirmed on 2 March.

RUSSIA CLOSES IN ON KYIV AS THE WAR MOVES INTO MARCH

As part of the Kyiv offensive (2022), the Russian forces sought control over Irpin, Bucha, and Hostomel in order to encircle and besiege the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv from the west. Due to the intensity of the Kyiv offensive, the Kyiv Oblast State Administration named Bucha, along with Irpin, Hostomel, Highway M06, and Vyshhorod as the most dangerous places in the Kyiv Oblast.

The Battle for Vyshhorod

Vyshhorod is a city of over 32,000 people located 10 miles north of Kyiv.

The Battle for Bucha

Bucha is a city of over 36,000 people located 15 miles northwest of Kyiv.
On 4 March 2022, Bucha remained under Ukrainian control despite the Russian forces probing the defenses. On 6 March 2022, the Russian forces intensified their shelling of the city, killing untold numbers of civilians. The city council reported that civilians have taken shelter in basements and that the city were not able to receive humanitarian aid due to the constant artillery bombardments. A Ukrainian official, Oleksiy Arestovych, stated that Russian forces had captured Bucha on 5 March, and were not allowing civilians to evacuate, despite alleged injuries to children.

The Battle for Irpin

Irpin is a city of over 62,000 people located 13 miles northwest of Kyiv.
On 3 March 2022, the Kyiv Oblast State Administration announced that humanitarian aid were heading towards Bucha and Irpin, as well evacuations commencing in both cities. More than 1500 women and children were reported to have evacuated by train and another 250 were evacuated by bus. These evacuations however were complicated by the railway tracks in some routes getting destroyed and ongoing skirmishes between Ukrainian and Russian forces. On 5 March 2022, Ukrainian Ground Forces began to evacuate civilians from Irpin to Kyiv on foot. On 8 March, Mayor of Irpin, Oleksandr Markushyn, reported that he had received threats demanding to surrender the city to the Russian forces, which he rejected, saying "Irpin can't be bought, Irpin fights"

On 4 March 2022, a new wave of shelling hit downtown Kyiv, including the Borshchahivka a neighborhood located to the west and south-west of central Kyiv, An investigation by CNN into social media videos depicting the aftermath of missile strikes found that airstrikes had hit a business center and many multi-story buildings in the western areas of the city.

On 9 March Russiah ground forces closing in on the city as Russian forces began shelling the city again, resulting in several explosions. Kyiv authorities stated that The Ukrainian military continued building up defenses in cities in the north, south and east, and forces around Kyiv are “holding the line” against the Russian offensive.

Russian and Ukrainian authorities agreed to make a temporary humanitarian corridor, which resulted in a mass evacuation of civilians from the suburbs.

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For the time being, Ukraine maintains control of the city Kyiv.
They've staved off Russian attacks on the city over the past week.
They've done so with a valiant combination of military and civilian efforts.

Ukrainians of Kyiv have vowed to continue the fight to save their city.... and their country.

Updates on the War in and around Kyiv