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Bulk of Russian forces more than 25km from centre of Kyiv, UK says

Despite continued lack of progress, Kyiv remains Russia’s primary military objective, UK intelligence says

Sravasti Dasgupta
Monday 21 March 2022 03:58 EDT
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Russian convoy approaches Kyiv, satellite images reveal

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UK’s military intelligence said on Monday that Russian forces advancing towards Ukraine’s capital Kyiv from the north east have stalled and the bulk of it remains more than 25 kilometres from the centre of the city.

“Heavy fighting continues north of Kyiv,” the ministry of defence said in a statement as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches the one-month mark.

“Russian forces advancing on the city from the north east have stalled. Forces advancing from the direction of Hostomel to the north west have been repulsed by fierce Ukrainian resistance.”

“The bulk of Russian forces remain more than 25 kilometres from the centre of the city,” according to military intelligence.

“Despite the continued lack of progress, Kyiv remains Russia’s primary military objective and they are likely to prioritise attempting to encircle the city over the coming weeks,” the statement added.

On 24 February, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine to “de-militarise” and “de-Nazify” the country.

On Monday, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said that at least four people had been killed after a fire in a shopping mall in Podilskyi district.

Authorities said that the blaze started due to shelling by Russian forces, not far from the center of the capital.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has refused to surrender Mariupol, the strategic port city which has suffered some of the heaviest bombardment since the Russian invasion on 24 February.

On Sunday, Russian troops had urged Ukrainians to lay down their arms in Mariupol, saying they will be given safe passage out of the besieged port city if they agree to the offer.

However, Kyiv refused the offer and said that there was no question of laying down arms by residents facing the Russian invasion.

Residents in the city, meanwhile, continue to suffer from shortages of food, water and power.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a “third world war” if talks with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, fail to achieve peace following the invasion of Ukraine.

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