Battle of Kyiv (2022)

Battle of Kyiv
Part of the Kyiv offensive of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russian bombardment of the Kyiv TV Tower in Kyiv, 1 March 2022
Date25 February – 2 April 2022
(1 month, 1 week and 1 day)
Location
Result Ukrainian victory
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Oleksandr Syrskyi
Vitali Klitschko
Units involved
Strength
15,000–30,000 soldiers
700+ military vehicles
Undisclosed regular soldiers
18,000+ irregular forces
Casualties and losses
Unknown, presumed heavy
Four planes shot down
162 soldiers killed, 748 wounded (Ukrainian claim)
1 Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft shot down
89 civilians killed
~2 million civilians evacuated

The battle of Kyiv was part of the Kyiv offensive in the Russian invasion of Ukraine for control of Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, and surrounding districts including Hostomel Airport. The combatants were elements of the Russian Armed Forces and Ukrainian Armed Forces. The battle lasted from 25 February 2022 to 2 April 2022 and ended with the withdrawal of Russian forces.

Initially, Russian forces captured key areas to the north and west of Kyiv, leading to international prediction of the city's imminent fall. However, stiff Ukrainian resistance sapped Russian momentum. Poor Russian logistics and tactical decisions helped the defenders to thwart efforts at encirclement, and, after a month of protracted fighting, Ukrainian forces began counterattacking.

Following the successful Ukrainian counterattacks in late March, Russia began withdrawing its forces from the Kyiv area on 29 March. Four days later, the Ukrainian authorities declared that Kyiv and the surrounding Kyiv Oblast were again under Ukrainian control.