According to the Washington Times, Ukrainian troops on Saturday reestablished control over the Kyiv region after Russia backed off from attacking the area to regroup.
This information comes by way of Anna Malyar, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister.
“Irpin, Bucha, Gostomel, and the whole Kyiv region – released from zagarbnika,” Malyar wrote in a Facebook post.
If true, this marks the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on February 24, that Ukrainian forces are back in control of the Kyiv region.
Zelensky urges caution
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed over the weekend that there is a “slow but noticeable” withdrawal of Russian troops from the northern regions of Ukraine. He, though, warned that it is going to be a long time before the region shows any signs of normalcy.
Zlenensky also had a warning for those who might return to the area, saying:
And, everyone who returns to this area must also be very careful! It is still impossible to return to normal life as it was. Even in the areas we return after the fighting. You will have to wait. Wait for our land to be cleared. Wait until you can be assured that new shelling is impossible.
Although Russian troops do appear to have withdrawn from the Kyiv region, the war between Russia and Ukraine still appears to be far from over. Rather, reports indicate that Russian troops are currently consolidating, and it appears as though they will be focusing on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
Russian forces on Monday launched an overnight attack in Odesa, an important port town located in the southeastern region of Ukraine. It is unclear what kind of damage was done.
Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are expected to continue on Monday.
The devastation
Following the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Kyiv region, pictures of the area were released showing the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion.
What has captured the attention of people around the world are the photos of civilians who are said to have been executed by Russian troops. Zelensky subsequently referred to Russia’s attacks as “genocide.”
Zelensky said:
Indeed, this is genocide. We have more than a hundred nationalities. This is about destruction and extermination of all these nationalities. We are the citizens of Ukraine and we don’t want to be subdued to the policy of Russian Federation. This is the reason we are being destroyed and exterminated. And this is happening in the Europe of the 21st century. So this is the torture of the whole nation.
