Ukrainians push Russian forces more than 20 miles away from Kyiv
Ukrainian counter-attacks on the outskirts of Kyiv have pushed Russian forces more than 20 miles away from the capital, Britain’s Ministry of Defence has said.
Towns and defensive positions were said to have been reoccupied by Ukraine east of Kyiv as their troops succesfully repelled the invading army back on to “overextended supply lines”.
The counter-attacks heap further misery on Russia as its month-old campaign continues to falter, with troops yet to capture a major city and now losing ground in key areas.
Vladimir Putin hoped to topple Volodymyr Zelensky's government by taking Kyiv in a matter of days, but Russia has not made any meaningful advance for weeks.
Russian armoured columns have been threatening Kyiv from the north-west and the east, stretching for dozens of miles along a road leading from Belarus, but the glacial progress has exposed them to repeated raids and ambushes.
The MoD said on Friday morning that the Ukrainians would now seek to build on the momentum of their counter-attacks by trying to push Russian forces “back along the north-western axis from Kyiv towards Hostomel Airfield”.
Troops were also still holding on to the city of Chernihiv, north-east of Kyiv, hindering a Russian advance in the direction of the capital.
Ukraine’s counter-attacks have also been inflicting damage on Russia in the south of the country, where the invading force was advancing west from Crimea to try to take Odesa - Ukraine’s main port - and assert dominance over the Black Sea region.
Russia captured the city of Kherson, around 60 miles north-west of Crimea, but Ukraine has so far managed to hold Mykolaiv, a ship-building city on the Black Sea coast, against attack.
Last week, a suspected Ukrainian strike on Kherson airport set several helicopters and vehicles ablaze.
The MoD said in an intelligence update on Friday: “In the south of Ukraine Russian Forces are still attempting to circumvent Mykolaiv as they look to drive west towards Odesa with their progress being slowed by logistic issues and Ukrainian resistance.”
Ukraine claimed another success in its efforts to stall Russia’s advance by destroying a 370ft warship, Orsk, used to deliver tanks and other weapons in the port of Berdyansk.
Two other vessels were also damaged in the strike from Ukraine’s navy after their location appeared in a Kremlin propaganda video.
The port has been vital to Russian supply lines, allowing Moscow to ferry in supplies to troops encircling Mariupol, about 50 miles to the east, and across Ukraine’s eastern front.
