The battle was part of a larger operation to encircleKyiv, the capital city ofUkraine. The Ukrainian forces resisted the Russian advance in the capital's western suburbs of Irpin,Bucha, andHostomel.[15][16][17] The battle was marked by fierceurban fighting.[18][19][20] Nearly 70% of the city was heavily damaged or destroyed as a result.[21]
On 25 February, Russian forces advanced on the suburb ofHostomel and itsairport from the northwest after partiallybreaking through Ukrainian defenses atIvankiv, capturing the airport and establishing a foothold in the town. Though there was still ongoing Ukrainian resistance in Hostomel, Russian forces began to advance south to capture the neighboring cities ofIrpin andBucha, with the goal of encircling Kyiv.[16][17]
Later that day, a Russian column was defeated by Ukrainian forces near Irpin.[22][23] The70th Support Brigade blew up a bridge to block the passage of a Russian convoy following which it's barrier Platoon was attacked by Russian forces killing two personnel.[24][25] On 26 February, residents of Irpin reported that Russiansaboteurs were disguising themselves as Ukrainian soldiers.[26]
A transfer of civilians from Irpin to Kyiv due to Russian attacks.
On 25 February, due to a lack of communications with the main invasion command, a convoy ofOMON andSOBR units fromKemerovo Oblast accidentally separated from the invasion forces and ended up charging at Kyiv by themselves. The convoy was ambushed at a bridge over theIrpin River, and the unarmored and under-equipped units were completely destroyed. Reportedly, of the 80 soldiers in the convoy, only 3 wounded men survived.[3]
On 27 February, Ukrainian forces reported thatRussian Ground Forces hadadvanced into Bucha, breaking through the city and advancing towards Irpin.[17][27] A tank battle ensued inside the city, while Ukrainian infantry engaged Russian paratroopers.[17][27] Oleksandr Markushyn, the mayor of Irpin, stated that the Russian forces were attempting to break through the city, but were being repulsed byUkrainian Ground Forces andTerritorial Defense Forces, with Ukrainian tank reinforcements coming from Bucha. Intense fighting occurred at the Giraffe mall between Bucha and Irpin.Videos posted by Ukrainian soldiers showed a destroyed Russianarmored personnel carrier and at least six dead Russian soldiers.[28][29][30]
The Ukrainian forces used rockets, artillery, and airstrikes to halt the Russian advance, and destroyed a bridge connecting Bucha and Irpin.[31][32]
On 28 February 2022, Ukrainian officialOleksiy Arestovych stated that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian forces onHighway M06 in the morning and that more than 200 Russian vehicles were destroyed or damaged by the afternoon.[33][34]
The University of the State Tax Service of Ukraine in Irpin damaged by Russian shelling, 4 MarchIrpin after Russian invasionVehicle graveyard in Irpin
On 2 March 2022, two RussianSukhoi Su-25s conducted airstrikes in Irpin. Two missiles struck a residential building, killing a child and injuring a woman.[35][36][37] One of the Su-25s was shot down by Ukrainian forces. The jet was identified to be part of the Russian18th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment.[38][39]
Ukrainian military officials reported that Russian forces had begun to lose momentum, taking significant casualties and being stopped at "unfavorable borders".[40][41]
On 3 March 2022, theKyiv Oblast State Administration announced that the Ukrainian government was sendinghumanitarian aid to Bucha and Irpin, as well announcing evacuations in both cities. More than 1,500 women and children were reported to have evacuated by train, while 250 were evacuated by bus.[42][43] However, Ukrainian officials reported that the evacuations were complicated as some railway tracks had been destroyed during fighting.[44]
On 6 March 2022, Russian forces captured part of Irpin.[49] In the morning,Oleksiy Kuleba, the city's Ukrainian military commander, stated that many evacuation routes out of the city were unsafe.[1] During a civilian evacuation later that day, 8 civilians, including 2 children, were killed when Russian forces shelled the evacuation road by Russianmortar units. A Ukrainian artillery position was located nearby.[1][50]
According toHuman Rights Watch, the Russian shelling may have violated their obligations under international humanitarian law. The organization also stated that Ukrainian similarly had an obligation to prevent civilian casualties by not operating military actions in civilian areas.[51] Ukrainian soldierPavlo Lee, an actor who had joined theTerritorial Defense Forces, was later killed by Russian shelling.[52]
On 8 March, Markushyn, who was commanding part of the Ukrainian forces in the city, stated that Russian forces demanded him to surrender the city, which he rejected, saying, "Irpin can't be bought, Irpin fights".[53][54]
On 9 March 2022, as Russian troops were seen patrolling streets in Irpin.[55] Ukrainian forces conducted a large-scale evacuation acrossKyiv Oblast, including in Irpin. Up to 20,000 civilians were evacuated in Kyiv Oblast.[56] Later, the Kyiv Oblast State Administration stated that fighting in Irpin continued during the night.[57]
On 13 March, Russian forces at a checkpoint shot at a car carrying foreign journalists, killing American journalistBrent Renaud and injuring two other journalists. Renaud was carrying press credentials issued byThe New York Times, though he had not worked for the publication since 2015.[58][59]
On 14 March,Mykhailyna Skoryk-Shkarivska [uk], a member of Irpin City Council, stated that half of Irpin was occupied by Russian forces.[60]
On 23 March, Markushyn claimed that Ukrainian forces were in control of 80 percent of the city,[61] whileFrance 24 reported Ukrainian forces on the ground acknowledged that Russia controlled half of the city.[62]
On 28 March, Markushyn claimed on social media that Irpin had been recaptured by Ukrainian forces. After initial uncertainty,[63][64]Reuters confirmed the city was under Ukrainian control on 30 March, withCNN also confirming Ukrainian control of the city on 31 March.[65][66]
^ab"Latest Military Situation in Ukraine, 27 February 2022 (Map Update)".Islamic World News. 27 February 2022.Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved1 March 2022.On February 27, the southern areas of Gostomel Airport, including Bucha and Irpin, witnessed one of the heaviest battles in the past four days between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Russian forces trying to block the western entrances to the city of Kiev by advancing in this area.
Oleksiy Kuleba[1]
