A suburb of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, has reportedly been liberated from Vladimir Putin’s invaders. The newly liberated jurisdiction is Irpin, and news of the liberation was shared by the town’s mayor, Oleksandr Markushyn, and spread by sources including the Ukrainian government information outlet, Ukrinform. Markushyn commented as follows:
‘We have good news today. Today, Irpin has been liberated. Now the clean-up is underway. I appeal to our residents: it is still impossible to return to Irpin, it is still dangerous. We gain a foothold on our new frontiers and will continue to advance and liberate Bucha, Hostomel, Vorzel. We understand that there will be more attacks on our town. And we will courageously defend it. Irpin is Ukraine!’
⚡️ Irpin declared liberated from Russian forces.
According to Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn, civilians aren’t yet allowed to return to the city, which is located just northwest of Kyiv. There is a high risk of Russia’s further attacks.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 28, 2022
An early Monday report from The Kyiv Independent said that, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, “Russian troops are attempting to advance on Kyiv from the northwest and east, capturing nearby roads and villages” — so fighting in the area has clearly been persisting. There have, however, been other recently reported Ukrainian victories in various jurisdictions around the country, including in Poltavka, Malynivka, and Vilkhivka. The first two locales are in the Zaporizhzhia region, while the third is in the area of Kharkiv, and all were reported to have been liberated from Russia’s invading forces. According to the Ukrainian news outlet Euromaidan Press’s telling of the Poltavka and Malynivka victories, the “Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a counter-offensive to the northwest towards Mariupol, liberating Malynivka and Poltavka settlements, said Zaporizhia Oblast Military Administration.” (Oblast is a term used for administrative regions within Ukraine.)
⚡️ Armed Forces: Russia attempts to break through defenses near Kyiv.
According to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Russian troops are attempting to advance on Kyiv from the northwest and east, capturing nearby roads and villages. Russian forces are currently being held back by Ukraine.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 28, 2022
Although attacks have unfolded across Ukraine throughout this war that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched, Mariupol has seen particular devastation. It is now believed that some 5,000 people have died amid Russian attacks on Mariupol, according to the city’s mayor, Vadym Boychenko, and that number includes some 210 children. Attacks have affected all sorts of locations, from a maternity hospital to schools, factories, and numerous residential buildings. One strike on a theater in use as a shelter in Mariupol is believed to have killed some 300 people, and in addition to the deaths, tens of thousands of residents have apparently been forcibly relocated by Russian invaders to territory under Putin’s control.
New: Mayor of Kyiv suburb Irpin says Ukrainians have reclaimed the area from Russian forces. “Irpin was freed last night,” he said. “Now we need to clear the town totally…Irpin is a staging area for an attack. We will [next] liberate Bucha, Vorzel and Hostomel.”
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 28, 2022
Going on: apparently, more than a thousand apartment blocks in Mariupol have been destroyed, and many more — almost all of the apartment blocks in the sprawling city, in fact — have been damaged. In a recent interview with independent Russian media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told those listening: “But, unfortunately, let’s go back to the consequences and results for us. As a result: there is no Mariupol. Simply no. There is simply no Volnovakha. There are no towns near Kyiv in Kyiv Region – our small towns… Which, I think, are the same as yours… All towns near the capital cities are usually small. But people live there. There are cottage houses, and local population too. All of this no longer exists. The scorched land. Simply the scorched land. Completely,” according to Ukrinform’s translation.
Breaking: The mayor of Irpin has just announced Irpin has been liberated and now is being cleared of remaining Russians.
The mayor says it's not safe to return there yet. He also says the army is now going to liberate Bucha, Hostomel and Vorzel.— Dan Rivers (@danriversitv) March 28, 2022
