Chronicle of the main battles
➤ Battle of Gostomel
Fighting for control of the strategically important Antonov airport near the village of Gostomel northwest of Kiev began on the morning of February 24, 2022, the first day of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. 2022. They continued intermittently until February 27.
Around 8 am on February 24, 2022, 34 Russian Ka-52 helicopters armed with missiles flew south across the Belarusian-Ukrainian border at low altitude along the Dnieper River towards Kiev. On the way, they came under fire from Ukrainian defenders with small arms and portable anti-aircraft missiles.
During the first battle, fighters of the Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine V/ch 3018 (now the Brigade of the Offensive Guard “Frontier”) destroyed the attackers and damaged the runway. This prevented the Russian military transport aircraft IL-76 from transporting the main forces of the invading elite troops to the Gostomel airport via an air bridge from the territory of Russia and Belarus, in order to attack the Ukrainian capital from there with a blitz of ice.
The Russians lost 6 helicopters in the fighting for Gostomel: 1 Mi-8, 1 Mi-28, and 4 Ka-52. And the latter is the most modern. They called the helicopter super invulnerable.
Later, on February 25, Russian ground forces, coming from the territory of Belarus, did occupy the territory of the airport, but could no longer use it for landing aircraft.
The Battle of Gostomel began, which lasted more than a month. The Ukrainian Defense Forces liberated the airport on April 2, 2022.
During the fighting at the airport, after the 5th helicopter airlift on the night of 25 February, the Russians destroyed the world's largest transport aircraft, the An-225 Mriya, which was standing in the hangar, as well as a number of other aircraft. The battle continued into the evening. The Russian air force was driven out of the airport, but clashes continued in the forests outside it.
➤ Battle for Moshchun
The battle for the village of Moshchun is one of the fiercest during the defense of Kiev, which lasted from February 27 to March 21, 2022. Moshchon became a strategically important position for the Moscow invaders, since by taking it, they intended to enter Kiev through Pushcha-Voditsa. It was at the capture of Moshchon that the Kremlin threw the most elite fighters and a significant amount of the most modern equipment.
After the landing of the Russian landing at Gostomel Airport, the main forces of the Russian troops went on a massive attack on Kiev from Belarus through the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. In the course of a rapid advance, the Russian occupation troops took control of Chernobyl, Ivankov, Dymer, Borodianka, and came close to Bucha.
Ukrainian troops blew up bridges across the Irpin River in order to deter the enemy's advance. The shelling and fighting along the river had been going on for several days.
On March 5, after the occupation of the Buch-Gostomel-Irpin frontier by the main forces of the Russian invaders, the units of their 76th Assault Division and the 98th Airborne Division were sent to force the Irpin River near the village of Moshun, where a small enemy force of special forces units The purpose occupied the northwestern part of the village.
On the morning of March 6, Russian troops began to force the Irpin River in the direction of Moshchon. Under pressure, the Ukrainian fighters retreated to the village center and regrouped. Special forces armed with anti-tank equipment arrived to reinforce them, including National Guard fighters and National Police special units.
Russian “Grad”, artillery fire, mortar shelling, air strikes, attacks from drones and attack helicopters continuously covered the village. Russian REB facilities cut communication and disabled Ukrainian drones.
By that time, the Russians had already faced fierce resistance from the Ukrainian army and territorial defense forces in the neighboring city of Irpin and other areas west of the capital. Having failed to break through Ukraine's defenses there, the Russian occupation forces decided to concentrate on advancing to Kiev a little further north — through the village of Moshchun.
In the early days of the invasion, forces of local activists, special forces and national guards blew up part of the Kozarovitsky Dam to force the flow of water from the Kiev Reservoir to descend into the Irpin River — against its flow and thus create a natural barrier, effectively restricting access to the enemy from the area of the airport “Antonov” to Moshchon, which they considered as the gateway to Kiev.
The Irpin River emerged from its natural course and rose 1.5—2 meters, which made it difficult for the enemy to force it.
On March 11, Russian troops began a massive assault on Moshchon. Ukrainian troops deployed additional forces to the village to repel the offensive. In the following days, Ukrainian forces under the influence of the “fire shaft” gradually retreated to the outskirts of the village, the main forces of Ukrainian troops occupied the defense in the forest near Moshchon.
After counterattacks, on March 16, the Ukrainian Defense Forces finally repulsed the lost positions.
A few days later, Ukrainian units blocked Moshchon on both sides and began shelling with heavy artillery the crossing point and the concentration of Russian troops.
The Ukrainian defense forces pushed the Russian troops to the Irpin River.
On March 21, 2022, the Ukrainian Defense Forces completely liberated Moshchon from Russian invaders. Exactly a year later, the President of Ukraine celebrated the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the anniversary of the Battle of Moshchun.
Presentation of state awards took place in the village of Moshchun, Kyiv region, which became one of the important points during the Battle of Kiev. During the occupation, it suffered considerable destruction. Before the full-scale invasion, there were almost 3 thousand buildings on the territory of the village, of which 2 thousand were damaged or completely destroyed by the occupiers.
According to the President, the Battle of Moshchun became one of the turning points in modern history. Ukrainian soldiers held back the enemy attack of units of the Russian landing forces, marines and created the conditions for the liberation of the Kiev region.
Decree of the President of Ukraine № 165/2023 20 employees and servicemen of the National Guard, National Police, State Border Guard were awarded for personal courage and dedication in the protection of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, conscientious and impeccable service to the Ukrainian people services, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
After the liberation of Kyiv region, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denis Monastrysky together with the Prosecutor General and Ukrainian and foreign journalists visited Bucha, Gostomel and Irpin for the first time.
The police began stabilization measures in the newly liberated cities and villages of Kyiv region.
➤ Battle for Chernihiv
From the northern Left Bank of the Dnieper, the invaders broke through to Kiev through Chernihiv region and practically besieged ancient Chernihiv, a pearl and architectural monument of the ancient Russian period.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war - during the month of occupation of Chernihiv region - 27 bridges and overpasses have been destroyed. In the Chernihiv region, Russian soldiers damaged or destroyed about 3.5 thousand buildings, among which 80 percent are housing.
38 war crimes of Russians against the cultural heritage of Chernihiv region were recorded by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy as of May 27, 2022.
In Chernihiv itself, the Russian military destroyed 27 out of 34 schools and 37 out of 52 kindergartens, 3 of 4 hospitals. Almost the entire social infrastructure of the city was destroyed, which was on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe.
A real place of salvation for Chernihiv residents was the base of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in the Chernihiv region. While the personnel of rescuers were on the road — overcoming the consequences of rocket attacks and fires, rescuing civilians from rubble and hellfire, Chernihiv children were hiding in the shelter, with whom professional psychologists and even the future star of the dog Patron worked.
After the liberation of Chernihiv region from Russian occupation, the invaders continue artillery shelling and air strikes along the border, destroying housing, economic facilities and social infrastructure — schools, kindergartens, medical institutions and cultural institutions.
➤ Battle for Kharkov
On February 24, 2022, around 5:00am, the Russian occupiers began shelling Kharkov. On the evening of February 25, the Russians hit the regional children's hospital and the Blood Service Center with a cluster warhead. One man was killed, who was waiting in turn to become a blood donor. On the night against February 26, there were cases of breaking through the defenses of the city.
Several enemy tanks entered Kharkiv, were destroyed and control was restored by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Throwing their vehicles in the middle of the road, groups of 5-10 Russian occupiers surrendered to Ukrainian troops. As soon as they see at least one representative of the Armed Forces, they surrender.
On February 28, the Ukrainian military destroyed the Russian occupiers and their equipment during the defense of Kharkov. Enemy losses — 15 killed, 4 captured. In the afternoon Kharkiv suffered a massive attack by the “Gradas” — dozens of dead and hundreds wounded. Among the dead are three children.
On March 1, the Russians launched a missile strike on the Freedom Maidan and the building of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration. Six people were rescued from under the rubble, about 20 were injured, 29 people were killed. Nearby buildings were also damaged, including the Consulate of Slovenia and the State Institute for the Design of Enterprises of the Coking and Chemical Industry. They fired from Russian Belgorod, from the Tu-22 strategic bomber, which launched 16 air-to-surface missiles at Kharkov.
Ukrainian defenders defeated the 1st Battalion Tactical Group of the 200th Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which was personally commanded by Combrig Colonel Denis Kurilo. Destroyed and captured 30 units of Russian equipment. At this point, the calculation of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile defense system Javelin destroyed the Russian SAU 2S3 Acacia.
On the morning of March 2, Russian occupation forces struck the building of the Faculty of Economics of Kharkiv National University (the building was destroyed, a large-scale fire broke out on the spot) and the adjacent building of the regional police department and the SBU. Four policemen were killed. One cruise missile hit the city council building. The missile strike partially destroyed the nearby Palace of Labor, the nearby scientific library of the Karazin University was damaged.
A Russian shell hit the Assumption Cathedral, where people were hiding from the enemy; the Antonievskaya Church and the Church of John the Peaceful were damaged by shelling. Also, the occupiers launched a rocket attack on the playground.
On March 3, near Kharkiv, the Armed Forces defeated and captured units of the Russian tank Taman and Kantemyrov divisions. The Severnaya Saltovka microdistrict was the worst hit - a total of about 40 apartment buildings burned down. In the evening, the situation in the city remained tense, there was a strong attack on the Saltivsky depot, where trams and buses were standing.
The Battle for Kharkiv lasted from February 24, 2022 to September 11, 2022 — that is, until the de-occupation of Kharkiv region.
➤ Battle for Nikolaev The fighting for
Nikolaev lasted from February 24 to November 10, 2022 in and around Nikolaev during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On February 24, the Russian occupation forces began a full-scale offensive on the territory of Ukraine. At 4:58, Russian artillery and aircraft began shelling Kulbakyne airport and the port of Ochakiv. Thanks to intercepted information from the MO GUR regarding the bombing of the airfield, the 299th Brigade managed to lift all the aircraft into the air before the start of the airdrop, thus suffering no casualties.
On the night of February 26, in the coastal direction near the village of Kobleve, mechanized units of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade destroyed a boat and up to 20 personnel of the enemy DRG. Also, the Navy replaced landing-accessible areas on the coast.
In Nikolaev 5 military helicopters of the Russian Federation landed on the territory of an abandoned fire station near the National University of Shipbuilding named after Admiral Makarov. A battle broke out with the 79th Brigade and units of the National Guard of Ukraine, as a result of which all Russian paratroopers were neutralized and 2 helicopters were shot down. On the same day, Russian tanks entered the city with gunfire. After the battle with the fighters of the Defense Forces, the occupation troops began to flee from the city towards Kherson.
On February 27, Russian troops began to actively use DRG. The police patrolled the city with the Troops around the clock, but from time to time there was a fight with the enemy DRG. The outfit of the National Guard, together with the city commissioner, stopped the trucks. During the inspection, the invaders were found in them. A battle began, as a result of which the Russian military was neutralized.
The Russian occupation forces, which tried to enter Nikolaev, received strong resistance and began to flee from Nikolaev in the direction of Bashtanka. They were destroyed by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
In Bashtanka and Snigurivka, near Nikolaev, local residents blocked the road to enemy vehicles, taking Russian occupiers captive.
On the night of March 2, the first offensive operation took place, when the Defense Forces struck the occupiers in the area of Chornobayivka and in the Yelanets direction.
From this story was born a folk meme about Chornobayivka. Frightened terrorists of the special squad of the Russian Federation began to throw equipment and run from where to where. As a result, the locals captured most of the military, and the unburned equipment of the special squad was seized and handed over to the Ukrainian military.
