Ukrainian forces on Saturday regained full control of the region around the capital Kyiv for the first time since Russia invaded the country at the end of February, according to a Ukrainian official.
Hanna Malyar, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, shared the news in a Facebook post. Malyar said Ukrainians should continue to refrain from returning to their homes, citing ongoing efforts to clear the area, including of mine debris.
Earlier this week Russia said it was withdrawing troops from around Kyiv and the city of Chernihiv, but President Biden expressed skepticism about the claim and the Pentagon said Moscow was indeed “repositioning” troops.
“We believe this is a repositioning, not a real retreat, and that we should all be prepared to watch for a major offensive against other areas of Ukraine. That doesn’t mean the threat to Kyiv is over,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met for peace talks in Turkey this week as the war has dragged on for more than a month, forcing more than four million Ukrainians to flee the country and resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.
However, the Ukrainians have put up a fierce resistance to the invasion, killing up to 15,000 Russian soldiers by the end of March, according to NATO estimates – including several senior officers, according to reports. The Kremlin has reported significantly lower casualties.
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Around Kyiv the British Ministry of Defense said early Saturday that Ukrainian troops were attempting to advance from Irpin to Bucha and Hostomel northwest of the capital and had recaptured several villages to the east.
According to the British Ministry, Russian troops had also reportedly withdrawn from Hostomel Airport, north-west of the capital.
Cities around Kyiv were littered with destroyed Russian tanks, Reuters reported on Saturday. Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Okeksiy Arestovych said Ukraine recaptured more than 30 towns and villages in the region this week.
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