The de-occupied territories north of Kyiv: Irpin, Bucha, Moshchun and Hostomel

By David Price and colleagues

The following is a series of photo and video essays about the de-occupied territories just north of Kyiv along the front line in 2022, in which the Ukrainian Armed Forces fought off the Russian Armed Forces in their attempted assault upon Kyiv. The towns and villages occupied by the Russians on what was then the front line in the Russian assault on Kyiv were about 35 kilometres north of Kyiv, and represented some of the most brutal destruction in the early days of the war. Ultimately the Russians realised they could not sustain their front line positions and retreated from Kyiv, having suffered huge casualties and in particular loss of armour much of which was from the Soviet era.

Destroyed bridge in Irpin

In Irpin, a small town north of Kyiv, the Ukrainian Armed Forces blew up their own bridge to halt the Russian advance.

Russian armour graveyard outside Bucha

The ageing Russian armour, dating from the Soviet Union - tanks and anti-personnel carriers - proved no match for modern anti-tank weaponry supplied by the West to Ukraine in advance of the invasion, and much of it was quickly destroyed, its occupants promptly killed by the shrapnel the pierced the light armour.

Bucha

Bucha memorial

On a damaged window in Bucha, a memorial has been created showing a soldier and a woman. Varying interpretations exist of the meaning of this moving memorial.

Bucha house of torture

The Russians captured and tortured a number of people in Bucha, and a memorial to them has been constructed outside the building where the torturers committed their foul misdeeds.

The brutal destruction of Hochomel city market, killing dozens of civilians

People kidnapped by the Russian Armed Forces in Bucha and taken to Russia

More images of Russian destruction and memorials in the region

Bucha mass grave

After Bucha was liberated, a mass grave was found in Bucha around the back of a church with over 100 bodies. Over a thousand people, mostly civilians, were murdered by the Russians during their occupation of Bucha, often just shooting civilians in the street and leaving their bodies lying in the road.

Hostomel market

The Russians shelled the thriving market in Hostomel until it was completely destroyed, and it stands as a relic to the wanton destruction of the Russian occupation.

The destruction by Russian Armed Forces of Irpin stadium, and efforts and its contemporary reconstruction

Moshchun trenches

The battle of Moshchun, from 5 to 21 March 2022, involved the Ukrainian Armed Forces, often recruiting civilian volunteers to fight, repelling a Russian advance. A memorial to the battle has been created in Moshchun, in which many of the original trenches have been reconstructed to give visitors an impression of the trench warfare that took place there and commemorating the Ukrainian heroes who died there.

Irpin theatre

The Russians wantonly shelled Irpin theatre, leaving it in ruins. It now stands as a memorial to callous Russian disregard for civilian institutions.

Irpin car cemetery

The Russian Armed Forces during their occupation of Irpin shelled and destroyed a huge number of civilian cars, that have now been turned into a monument showing the extent of the damage and death caused to civilians.

More images of Russian destruction and brutality and the heroism of Ukrainian civilians and military