'Point of no return' and decisive moment: Army chief reveals details of Kyiv’s defense
Photo: Oleksandr Syrskyi (facebook.com/CinCAFofUkraine)
The defense plan for Kyiv was carefully prepared even before the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. All responsible parties were given instructions that helped the capital withstand the assault, according to a statement by Oleksandr Syrskyi in an interview with the YouTube channel Zakhysnyky Nezalezhnosti (Defenders of Independence).
According to the general, he realized that Russia would launch a full-scale invasion when it "extended" joint exercises with the Belarusian armed forces.
"At that point, it became clear that this was already open preparation for aggression, because an offensive grouping had been formed and it would be tasked with capturing Kyiv," he clarified.
Commenting on reports that Russian aircraft, even during exercises on Belarusian territory, deliberately violated Ukrainian airspace, Oleksandr Syrskyi emphasized that this was preparation for strikes and an attempt to identify Ukrainian air defense systems.
Answering a question about the decisive moment in the fate of the capital, the general noted that the most critical were the first hours, when the Russian forces deployed all their weaponry, airborne troops, and ground forces.
"For us, this was expected, because a day earlier, I gathered the entire city leadership, all district heads, all security structures, the entire leadership of the Ground Forces, and the mayor arrived. At that time, I presented the concept of Kyiv’s defense and the chain of actions... Everyone knew where they were, who they reported to, and the procedure in case of aggression," Syrskyi said.
Battle of Kyiv
The Battle of Kyiv was one of the key stages of the initial phase of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022.
Russian forces attempted to quickly capture the capital, advancing from the north, including through Belarusian territory, and fighting in suburbs such as Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel. One of the first episodes was the battle for Hostomel airport, where Ukrainian forces resisted an attempted airborne landing.
Throughout March, fighting around Kyiv continued, but the Ukrainian army gradually halted the advance and went on the counteroffensive. By the end of March and the beginning of April, Russian troops began withdrawing from the northern direction, leaving the Kyiv region.
Today, the main fighting continues in the east and south of the country. In particular, Ukrainian defenders recently cleared a key settlement on the Bakhmut–Sloviansk highway of enemy forces.
