Today Marks the Fourth Anniversary of the Liberation of Kyiv Region from Russian Invaders

On April 2, 2023, Ukraine celebrates the fourth anniversary of the liberation of the Kyiv region from Russian invaders. This event not only represents a crucial stage in the fight for independence but also stands as a strategic victory that ultimately shattered the enemy's plans to seize the capital of Ukraine in just 'three to five days' and force our country into capitulation, as reported by the Ukrinform news agency.

The battles for Kyiv began in the early hours of the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukrainian territory. Initially, the Russian command focused on capturing military airfields in Hostomel and Vasylkiv, which were intended to facilitate a landing operation. However, despite their numerical superiority, the resilience of the National Guard and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who damaged runways and engaged in fierce combat, forced the aggressor to reassess their plans. The main forces of the occupiers advanced via land routes from Belarus, capturing 15 communities in the Vyshhorod, Bucha, and Brovary districts.

Intense fighting lasted for over a month in populated areas such as Hostomel, Irpin, Bucha, Borodyanka, Makariv, Moschun, and Dmytrivka. Ukrainian defenders managed to halt the elite units of the Russian Federation, including airborne divisions and naval infantry. One of the decisive factors that influenced the course of the defense was the demolition of a dam near the village of Kozarovychy, which led to the flooding of the Irpin River. This made it impossible for the enemy to cross the water obstacle and blocked their path to Kyiv from the north.

In the eastern direction, near the village of Skybyn under Brovary, Ukrainian defenders delivered a devastating blow to the column of the 6th Tank Regiment of the Russian Federation, after which the invaders' advance on the capital ultimately came to a halt. The occupation of the Kyiv region was accompanied by mass terror against the civilian population. According to law enforcement agencies, over 1,600 civilians perished during the enemy's presence in the region, with the highest casualties reported in the Bucha district. The world witnessed horrific footage from Yablunska Street in Bucha and the ruins of Borodyanka, which were systematically destroyed by Russian aviation using aerial bombs.

The counteroffensive of the Defense Forces, which began at the end of March 2022, forced the remnants of Russian units to retreat. On March 28, Irpin was liberated, and just a few days later, after conducting a sweep of Bucha, Brovary, and Hostomel, the Kyiv region was officially declared free. Despite significant destruction affecting nearly 27,000 facilities, the de-occupation of the region became Ukraine's first major success in this war.

The heroic resistance of the residents and defenders of the Kyiv region not only saved the capital but also halted the aggressive 'blitzkrieg,' providing the country with the necessary time for mobilization and regrouping of forces. As previously reported, on the evening of April 2, 2022, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine officially confirmed the liberation of the Kyiv region from Russian invaders, marking a pivotal moment in the struggle for Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity.

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