Ukrainian forces were supposed to recapture the airport in Gostomel near Kiev. This information was provided by British intelligence. For several days, the Ukrainians are reclaiming areas around the capital from the hands of the Russian army, which is slowly retreating. Recently, the Ukrainian army returned the cities of Irpen and Bucha near Kiev, which until recently were the scene of violent clashes.
Residents fled their homes in panic. Now Irpin lies in ruins, and the Ukrainian soldiers stationed there say that this is not the end of the war. – The Russians need Kyiv, because if they don’t get it, Putin will lose. So we are ready if they want to come back,” one of the soldiers said.
“The occupier withdraws his forces”
According to British intelligence, there are no Russians at the strategically important Gostomel airport near Kiev either. Their place was taken by Russian troops shortly after the invasion of Ukraine began.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that the Russians are withdrawing from Kyiv, as announced. – The occupier is indeed withdrawing troops from the north of our country. It’s a slow but visible process, he said.
Russia’s New Offensive
Both the Ukrainian army and NATO are warning that the Russians are leaving to be able to prepare a new offensive in the Donbass, in eastern Ukraine. Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that part of the Russian troops from Kyiv and Chernigov were withdrawn to Belarus. There they must restore full combat readiness, and then return to hostilities.
According to the Ukrainian authorities, Russian troops regularly use the Belarusian military and medical infrastructure. – They treat their wounded in Belarusian hospitals. They also use airports and military infrastructure. Moreover, Belarusian forces remain on alert. The threat from Belarus remains and should not be underestimated, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said. She added that the Ukrainian defense is ready to repel attacks from the territory of Belarus.