US sends secretly acquired Soviet air defense equipment to Ukraine

Ukrainian troops capture a suburb of Kyiv

Ukrainian forces retook a strategically important Kyiv suburb on Tuesday as the war with Russia nears its four-week mark.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced that troops were able to retake Makariv, northwest of Kyiv, The Associated Press reported.

However, Russian forces were able to gain ground in other suburbs of the Ukrainian capital, such as Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin.

Russian troops have not advanced in most other areas of the country, the AP added, noting that they were struggling to take control of all major cities in Ukraine. Russian forces have reportedly fired more than 1,000 rockets since the invasion began last month.

Meanwhile, fighting for Mariupol continued on Tuesday, with residents fleeing the city saying bodies were strewn on the ground, according to the AP.

According to the United Nations, more than three and a half million Ukrainians have fled the fighting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week asked US lawmakers for a no-fly zone over his country, a request rejected by the Biden administration.

Zelenskyi said he was no longer urging Ukraine to join NATO to end the war with Russia.