The Battle of Hostomel occurred.
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The Battle of Hostomel occurred.
As a component of the operation against Kiev and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022
Aftermath of the Combat of Hostomel, March 4, 2021 (cropped)jpg Russian casualties and damaged armored vehicles in the aftermath of the battle that took place on March 4 in Hostomel.
Dates: February 25th to April 1st, 2022 (1 month and 1 week)
Location Hostomel, which is located in the Kyiv Oblast of Ukraine
The end result was a triumph for Ukraine.
Reinforcements came from Russia and were used to occupy the area around the airport; however, a rapid effort to remove the Ukrainian government was unsuccessful.
[1][2]
Conflicting parties Russia and Ukraine Conflicting parties and leaders Russia and Ukraine Andrei Sukhovetsky † Ukraine Valeriy Chybineyev †
Units of the Russian Armed Forces that were involved with Mamuka Mamulashvili [3]
The 41st Combined Arms Army of the Russian Ground Forces.
The 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade of the Russian Airborne Forces [4].
Russia's National Guard Air Force of the Russian Federation
141st Motorized Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces [5][6] Ukrainian Armed Forces
Artillery units belonging to the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces (Ukraine)
Georgian Legion[3]
The Eightieth Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces (Ukraine)
The Third Spetsnaz Regiment of the Special Operations Forces [4]
Territorial Defense Forces
Guard of National Defense of Ukraine
The Ukrainian State Security Service
HUR MOU of the Alpha Group (SBU) [4]
Ukrainian guerrillas[7]
Irregular civilian volunteers (militia)
[4]
2022: The beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Russian military forces and the Ukrainian armed forces engaged in a conflict known as the Battle of Hostomel. This conflict was fought for control over the town of Hostomel. As part of their attack against Kyiv, the Russian forces attempted to seize control of the cities of Hostomel, Bucha, and Irpin in order to encircle and besiege the capital city of Ukraine, Kyiv, from the western side. [8] [9] The Kyiv Oblast State Administration identified Hostomel, Irpin, Bucha, Highway M06, and Vyshhorod as the most dangerous sites in the Kyiv Oblast as a result of the ferocity of the Kyiv offensive. Hostomel was also included on this list. [10]
The wreckage of an Antonov An-225 aircraft
Contents
1 Prelude 2 Battle 2.1 25–28 February 2022 [25–28 February 2022]
2.2 1–5 March 2022
3 Ukrainian resistance
4 Withdrawal of Russian Armed Forces
5 References
Prelude
Main article: Combat at Antonov Airport (Battle of)
On the 24th of February 2022, Russian airborne soldiers arrived at the Hostomel Airport by helicopters, where they engaged Ukrainian forces in combat for control of the airport. After first evicting the Russian airborne troops from the airport, Ukrainian forces were quickly engaged in combat with Russian reinforcements who had arrived on the scene. On February 25, 2022, Russian forces successfully retook the Hostomel Airport from the control of the Ukrainian military. As a direct consequence of this, the focus of the conflict switched from the airport to the neighboring town as Russian forces began to gain a foothold in Hostomel and press forward with their advance. [11] [12]
Conflict between 25 and 28 February 2022
The Russian BMD-4 is wedged between two concrete pillars.
Following the conflict that took place at the airport, fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces started to take place in and around Hostomel.
[12] Videos that were uploaded on social media showed a column of Russian tanks on the outskirts of the town that was on fire. The videos also showed Ukrainian Mi-24s firing rockets at Russian positions while flying over a residential neighborhood. [11] It was rumored that Kadyrovites had relocated into the outskirts of the town or into the airport in order to make preparations to carry out an assassination attempt on Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine. According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the Kadyrovite convoy had more than 1,500 of the "best fighters of the Chechen Republic" as well as over 250 pieces of weaponry. According to statements made by Ukrainian intelligence, they obtained these data from factions of the FSB that are opposed to the invasion. [5] [6]
A Chechen strike group that had been entrusted with assassinating President Zelenskyy was caught and destroyed by Ukrainian forces on February 26, 2022, after the Ukrainian military acted on an earlier intelligence report. In another area, Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) discovered two places close to Hostomel where Chechen fighters were gathering. After that, the Ukrainian National Guard and Alpha Group launched an attack on those positions, during which they were successful in destroying a column of Russian armored vehicles. Magomed Tushayev, a Chechen general who served as the head of the 141st Motorized Regiment of the National Guard of Russia, was reportedly among those slain in the attack, as stated by sources from the Ukrainian government. [5] [6] [13][14] [15] According to the information provided by the Ukrainian forces, the Kadyrovites suffered considerable casualties as a direct result of these attacks. [5][6]
1–5 March 2022
On top of a disabled BMD-2 were a number of dead Russian soldiers.
Damaged Russian BTR-MD
Residents of Hostomel have stated that they have been deprived of water, food, electricity, and medicine as a result of the relentless shelling and bombing carried out by Russian forces. The continuous shelling has prohibited the population from obtaining humanitarian aid, evacuating the town, and even removing corpses from the street. It has also hindered the residents from receiving humanitarian relief. It was stated that Kadyrovites were operating closer to the Hostomel Airport and robbing local civilians at the same time that Russian soldiers were pressing their approach into Hostomel. According to witnesses, Russian forces fired on an ambulance as it was in motion. [16]
On the 3rd of March 2022, Ukrainian and Russian soldiers fought each other in urban environments inside of Hostomel.
[17]
[18] According to a report by the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (GUR MO), special forces operating under their leadership and local resistance fighters were responsible for the destruction of twenty Russian BMDs (possibly BMD-2 and/or BMD-4) in Hostomel. At approximately 6:30 in the evening, ten of the BMDs were destroyed in the area of the town's glass plant. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] The Russian forces were ultimately driven out of the town after being repulsed. The aftermath of the urban combat was captured on video and shared across various social media platforms. The footage showed shattered and abandoned Russian vehicles as well as dead Russian soldiers lying across the streets. [17] [18] A Ukrainian sharpshooter killed Major general Andrei Sukhovetsky possibly in Hostomel or at the Hostomel Airport. He served the 41st Combined Arms Army as the deputy commander of the army. [24] [25]
On March 4, 2022, Ukrainian soldiers reportedly destroyed a BMD and bombarded Russian forces with BM-21 Grad missiles during their second encounter with Russian forces in the streets.
[26] A group of Kadyrovites was defeated by Ukrainian soldiers in another part of Hostomel, and the Ukrainian soldiers took their weapons, equipment, and armored vehicle as spoils of their victory. [27] It was later claimed that Ukrainian forces had successfully wrested control of Hostomel back from the Russian soldiers. The Russian 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade lost at least 50 fatalities as a result of the combat that took place in Hostomel, according to the intelligence gathered by the Ukrainians. It has been alleged that local resistance fighters, as well as special forces operating under the GUR MO and the 3rd Special Purpose Regiment, participated in the fighting. The Ukrainian military was successful in seizing Russian weaponry, equipment, personnel, and personal records. The Ukrainian military then transferred any weapons that were still in useable condition to the local opposition. According to the report from the GUR MO, the Russian soldiers who had passed away did not have any identity documents on them; they only had vaccination certifications and blank medical books. [4] Despite this, on the same day, Ukrainian forces stated that Major Valeriy Chybineyev had been killed close to the Hostomel Airport. [4] [28] Later on, Russian forces, apparently the 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade, came again into Hostomel and captured a residential complex, at which point they took at least 40 individuals hostage. [29] [30][31]
A journalist by the name of Ruslan Vinichenko described his experience of being held captive by Russian military for six days inside the basement of the apartment building. According to him, Russian soldiers rounded up sixty people (including himself) and locked them in the basement. At the same time, they were carrying out the same actions with ninety people in an apartment complex that was located nearby. The soldiers also allegedly stole and destroyed their phones, looted their apartments, and spread false information regarding the state of the war. For example, they claimed that Russian forces had captured Kyiv and Odessa. The only times inhabitants were permitted to emerge from the basement were when they needed to either smoke or get water. Vinichenko reported that Russian forces had made the announcement that they were assembling the population of the area to go to Belarus on the day that he escaped, which was March 10. He attempted to get the other occupants to leave with him, but they were too shaken up to move out of the building with him. After being picked up by a passing automobile, Vinichenko snatched his sweetheart and made a hasty getaway from the town. There were three Russian soldiers present who were aware of what was going on yet did nothing to stop it. [32]
On March 5, 2022, Russian forces overran the town of Hostomel and barred the civilian population from fleeing the area.
[33][34][35]
Ukrainian resistance
Yuri Prylypko, the mayor of Hostomel, and several other volunteers were assassinated by Russian military on March 7, 2022, while they were providing food and medicine to residents of the city.
[36] According to reports, his body was rigged with explosives by Russian forces before it was buried. When the local priest came to pick up his body, a sympathetic Russian soldier prevented the priest from getting close, disarmed the trap, and assisted with loading the mayor's body onto a wheelbarrow so that it could be carried away. Yuri was given a proper burial close to the church in the community. [37] At some point in time, Ukrainian forces retook control of several areas within Hostomel. As a response, Russian forces sent two battalion tactical groups to Hostomel in order to get ready for an offensive. [38]
On March 8, 2022, Ukrainian forces in Hostomel successfully withstood a nighttime onslaught launched by Russian forces. It was reported that Ukrainian forces were making preparations for a large-scale evacuation as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people living in Hostomel. [39] The following day, Ukrainian forces carried out a massive evacuation across the entirety of Kyiv Oblast, including in the city of Hostomel. In the Kyiv Oblast, there may have been as many as 20,000 residents taken to safety. The evacuation proceeded throughout the following day as well. [40]
On March 11, 2022, locals reported that Russian soldiers controlled the majority of Hostomel. As a result, it was extremely challenging for inhabitants to flee the town or get humanitarian help. While Russian supplies were being transported via helicopters, Russian military equipment was being carried into the residential portions of the town and into the town center. It was also alleged by witnesses that Kadyrovites were roaming through Hostomel and carrying out executions of residents for no apparent reason. [41] Despite this, on March 12, 2022, buses were able to effectively leave the town and escape the danger. [42]
On March 13, 2022, Ukrainian forces engaged Russian forces in combat while the latter were attempting to use a pontoon bridge to cross a river outside of Hostomel. The bridge as well as a number of Russian vehicles were taken out of commission. [43] [44]
On March 14, 2022, Ramzan Kadyrov, the current leader of the Chechen Republic, made the assertion that he had entered Hostomel. At the time of the statement, it was not possible to verify the allegation; however, it was received with skepticism because his announcement was televised by Russian state media. Oleksiy Arestovych, a presidential counselor, also had his doubts about Kadyrov's assertion because there was information that Kadyrov had been seen in Grozny the day before he made his declaration. [45] During the course of the day, there were two civilian evacuations that took place in Hostomel. Mothers and children, as well as the elderly and those with disabilities, were safely transported out of Hostomel by the first column of ten buses. Russian mortar fire hit the second column of four buses that were moving forward. As a result of the incident, one woman was killed and two males sustained injuries. [46] [47]
On March 16, 2022, Ukrainian forces launched a series of counter offensives against Russian forces around Kyiv, including some villages around Hostomel. The objective of these offensives was to take back control of the area. After executing artillery strikes, Ukrainian forces were able to break through Russian defenses, as stated by Andriy Nebitov, the head of police for the Kyiv region. In addition, he asserted that the counterattack prevented the Russian forces from carrying out their plan to invade Kyiv directly. [48] [49]
Withdrawal of Russian Armed Forces
Oleksandr Pavlyuk, the chief of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, made the assertion that all Russian forces had withdrawn from Hostomel on April 1, 2022.
[50] After Russian troops withdrew from the region, on April 2, 2022, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced that the entire Kyiv Oblast, which is where Hostomel is found, was no longer under the control of the Russian Military. [51]
CCTV footage was released on September 28th, 2022 by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the National Police of Ukraine. The tape showed soldiers from OMON and Rosgvardiya firing their weapons at people in Hostomel as the conflict was going on.