Ukrainian forces recapture Bucha

Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, 24 Feb. 2022. More than a month later, despite the war going sideways for the Russian invaders, it doesn't look like Moscow is backing down anytime soon. Criticism from many world leaders has been expressed.

A considerable number of companies, not to mention academic institutions, have either suspended relationships or completely stopped doing business in Russia. The monetary impact has been huge.

Battle of Bucha...

Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, announced on Tuesday, 29 March 2022, a reduction of activities near Kyiv and Chernihiv by the Russian military.

"In order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and achieving the ultimate goal of agreeing and signing (an) agreement, a decision was made to radically, by a large margin, reduce military activity in the Kyiv and Chernihiv directions," Fomin said.

Fomin curiously made no reference to either the eastern or the southern parts of Ukraine. Russian forces, in both eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, are conducting major offensives. Ukrainian forces, with the Russians making no headway, have proven a significant obstacle.

“They are mining the whole territory. They are mining homes, mining equipment, even the bodies of people who were killed,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. “There are a lot of trip wires, a lot of other dangers.”

Ukrainian forces, by Thursday, 31 March 2022, had re-established itself in Bucha. Bucha consequently saw heavy fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian troops.

Oleksandr Pavliuk, on Friday, 1 April 2022, revealed Bucha had mostly been retaken. Mayor Anatolii Fedoruk, the previous day, claimed Bucha had been fully retaken. Either way, noting the state of play, the Ukrainian forces scored a victory over the Russians.

"March 31 will go down in the history of our town... as the day of its liberation from Russian (forces)," Fedoruk said.

Pavliuk, heading the Ukrainian military administration for the Kyiv region, referenced Russian troops being in retreat. North of Bucha, as well as in the Gostomel-Bucha-Vorzel, combat continued unabated.

The Kyiv offensive, with the Battle of Bucha, sees Ukrainian forces recapture Bucha from Russian troops. Bucha, situated in Ukraine's Kyiv Oblast, was established as a settlement in 1898. The strategic value, despite the Russians being very much interested in the area, is questionable.

The Battle of Bucha, during the Kyiv offensive, was bloody. Russian military forces, engaging Ukrainian forces in the western suburbs, were attempting to encircle and besiege Kyiv. Irpin, Bucha, and Hostomel saw heavy fighting. Oleksiy Kuleba, the head of the Kyiv region, referred to Bucha as one of the most dangerous places. Bucha, due to the battle, has been without doubt significantly hazardous.

A fierce battle, on Tuesday, 1 March 2022, broke out around Kyiv. Ukraine military aircraft met with a pair of Russian Su-35C. The battle, for the Russian occupiers, ended in a crushing defeat. Ukrainian air defence destroyed the two Russian Su-35C fighters.

Battle of Irpin...

Ukrainian forces, driving out the last of the Russian troops, have recaptured the city of Irpin. Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn, during a brief press conference, confirmed the city fully liberated.

Markushyn believes the town is under Ukrainian control. The Russians, despite resistance having been dogged, had held approximately thirty per cent of the city.

Attack on Belgorod...

Russia, with video footage of lw-flying military helicopters, accuses the Ukrainian Air Force of conducting airstrikes on Belgorod. Apparently, during the attack, several fuel facilities were hit. Ukraine denied responsibility.

“Certainly," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks.”

If Moscow’s claims are proven true, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it would be the first known attack by Ukrainian military aircraft in Russian airspace.

Russia–Ukraine Peace Negotiations...

Ceasefire talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, via video link, resume.