Russian troops move northeast of Kiev to surround the Ukrainian capital before launching the final attack

the forces of Russia They moved their armored vehicles to the northeast of Kiev on Thursday, in their attempt to complete their operation to surround the capital of Ukraine.

An AFP team saw how columns of smoke rose from the town of Skybyn, a few hundred meters from the last checkpoint that marks the northeast limit of the city of Kyiv.

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Ukrainian soldiers said that heavy fighting broke out overnight to control the highway leading to the capital.

“There are ongoing military operations” said a soldier, identified only as Sergiy. He added that a column of Russian armored vehicles had been partially destroyed.

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The AFP team saw how Grad missiles fell on Velyka Dymerka, a neighboring town 5 km from the outer limits of Kyiv. This locality remained almost empty, in a sunny but frigid day.

At least half a dozen missiles slammed into the area, hitting several houses, which appeared to be empty. The journalists’ vehicle was damaged by the shots.

The presence of Ukrainian forces in the town was minimal in the town, although local residents reported heavy fighting during the previous night.

Vasyl Popov, a 38-year-old shopkeeper, called the situation “terrifying.”. “But what can we do? There is nowhere to run or hide. We live here,” she said.

Russian forces have been slowly encircling Kyiv. They approached the northwest of the capital since the first of the invasion of Ukraine, on February 24.

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Source: Elcomercio

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