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Battle of Moshchun

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Battle of Moshchun
Part of the northern Ukraine campaign during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

An aerial photograph of Moshchun after the battle
DateMarch 5, 2022 - March 21, 2022
(2 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Moshchun, Bucha Raion, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine
Result Ukrainian victory
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Sergey Chubarykin[1] Oleksandr Syrskyi[2]
Oleksandr Vdovychenko[2]
Roman Kovalenko[2]
Units involved

Russian Armed Forces

Armed Forces of Ukraine

National Guard of Ukraine
Strength

30,000 troops (including Irpin)[3]

3,000 troops (including Irpin)[3]
Casualties and losses
Per Ukraine: 100 confirmed killed[5] Per Ukraine: 118 killed[6]

The battle of Moshchun was a series of military engagements for control of the village of Moshchun and its surroundings during the initial phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The battle lasted from 5 March to 21 March 2022, and has been described as "one of the fiercest and most important battles during the defense of Kyiv."[7][8]

Background

After Russian Ground Forces took control of Hostomel airport on 25 February 2022, the main group of Russian forces launched a massive offensive on Kyiv from Belarus through the Chernobyl exclusion zone.[9] In the course of a rapid advance, Russian troops took control of Chernobyl, Ivankiv, Dymer, and Borodyanka. They also reached the outskirts of Bucha.[10]

In order to deter the Russian advance, Ukrainian troops blew up the bridges crossing the Irpin River as they retreated. Shelling and fighting continued along the river for several days.[11] Ukrainian reinforcements were sent to fortify Moshchun; Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Ukrainian commander overseeing the defense of Kyiv, took particular interest in the town as it could serve as a gateway into the capital and would oversee the defense of the location.[2]

Battle

Russian forces first crossed the bridge over the Irpin River at Moshchun late in the morning of 27 February, where they were engaged by mechanized units of Ukraine's 72nd Brigade's 5th Company and territorial defense forces, forcing the Russian vehicles to retreat.[12]

Moshchun was subjected to regular mortar, artillery, and air bombardment from 28 February, and the 5th Company, responsible for the defense of the village, urged all remaining civilians to evacuate on 5 March.[12]

On March 5, a small number of Russian special forces entered and occupied the northwestern part of Moshchun.[13] The Russian troops included the 76th Guards Air Assault Division under Sergey Chubarykin.[1]

On the morning of March 6, a significant number Russian troops began to cross the river. At that time, the defense of Moshchun was held by a company of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. The brigade was headed by Col. Oleksandr Vdovychenko, while the main defending company was led by Capt. Roman Kovalenko.[2][14] Under pressure, Ukrainian forces retreated to the center of the village and regrouped.[15] Later on, Ukrainian special forces armed with anti-tank weapons arrived as reinforcements.[16] The Russians continuously attacked the village with "Grads", artillery fire, mortar shelling, airstrikes, drones, and attack helicopters. Russian forces also disabled Ukrainian drones and jammed communications in the area using electronic warfare tactics.[17]

By mid-March, Russian forces still faced fierce resistance from Ukrainian defenders in the neighboring city of Irpin, as well as other areas west of the capital.[18] Having failed to break through Ukrainian defenses in these areas, the Russian army chose to prioritize advancing on Kyiv through Moshchun.[19][20]

At the beginning of the war, part of the Kozarovichi dam was blown up to allow water from the Kyiv reservoir to enter the Irpin River in an effort to raise its level and create a natural barrier. The river exceeded its banks by 1.5–2 meters, making crossings difficult.[21] The flooding made it almost impossible for Russian troops stationed at Hostomel Airport to reach Moshchun, which they considered as a gateway to Kyiv.[22][23]

On March 11, Russian troops launched a massive assault on Moshchun from all sides. Ukrainian troops brought reinforcements into the village in an attempt to repel the offensive. Under the influence of heavy artillery fire, Ukrainian forces gradually retreated to the outskirts of the village over the following days. In the aftermath, Ukrainian troops set up defensive positions in the forest near Moshchun.[24] Around March 14, Oleksandr Vdovychenko, the commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, offered to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi to retreat from Moshchun. The General replied by saying "If you move away, then Kyiv" and "We will look for forces and means". The command decided to continue the defense of the village and change its tactics. Vdovychenko began to rotate troops every three days, saying "Due to the density of shelling and the cold, it was impossible [for them] to stay longer." He also introduced a new battalion into the battle. [20][25]

A few days later, Ukrainian units surrounded Moshchun on two sides, and began to heavily shell the Russian troop concentrations and river crossings in the village.[26] The Ukrainian army then pushed Russian troops back to the Irpin River.[27]

On March 21, the Armed Forces of Ukraine completely liberated the village of Moshchun from Russian occupation.[28]

Military value

Moshchun became an important defense outpost of Kyiv.[29] Russian forces saw the village of Moshchun as a strategic position they needed to control to capture Kyiv. To this end, the Russian army sent many qualified troops, jet artillery, mortars, and aircraft to capture the village. Despite the difficult situation, the Ukrainian army stopped the Russian offensive, and later managed to push Russian troops to the left bank of the Irpin River.[30][31]

Aftermath

Russian losses at Moshchun, Irpin, Makariv, and other nearby settlements contributed to their decision to completely withdraw from Kyiv Oblast.[32][33]

During the battle, about 2,000 of the 2,800 buildings in Moshchun were destroyed.[34]

The following year, the Ukrainians claimed to have identified 100 Russian soldiers killed during the battle, including 45 paratroopers from Russia's 331st Guards Airborne Regiment and 30 soldiers from the 155th Separate Marine Brigade.[35] 118 Ukrainian soldiers were also confirmed to have been killed during the battle.[36]

References

  1. ^ a b "'Kill Everyone': Russian Violence in Ukraine Was Strategic". PBS. Archived from the original on 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sonne, Paul; Khurshudyan, Isabelle; Morgunov, Serhiy; Khudov, Kostiantyn. "Battle for Kyiv: Ukrainian valor, Russian blunders combined to save the capital". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  3. ^ a b "The Untold Story of the Battle for Kyiv | Small Wars Journal".
  4. ^ "Russian Marines Just Attempted Another Frontal Assault on Ukrainian Positions Around Pavlivka. The Result Was Predictably Bloody". Forbes.
  5. ^ Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Journalists identify 100 Russian soldiers killed trying to seize Kyiv last March
  6. ^ The fate of Ukraine and the capital was decided in the battles for the towns and villages of Kyiv region – Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored the memory of the warriors fallen in the battle for Moshchun
  7. ^ Raghavan, Sudarsan; Gerberg, Jon; Levine, Heidi (2022-03-30). "In bloodied front-line town, Ukrainian forces push Russians back". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  8. ^ "Оборона Києва залежала від Мощуна. Командувач ЗСУ Сирський розповів, як захищали столицю" [The defense of Kyiv depended on Moschun. The commander of the ZSU Sirskyi told how they defended the capital]. ukranews.com (in Ukrainian). 2022-12-07. Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  9. ^ Bengali, Shashank; Santora, Marc (2022-02-24). "Ukrainian Officials Report Missile Attacks in Kyiv". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  10. ^ "Russia invades Ukraine — live updates from Suspilne". Suspilne Ukraine. 2022-03-28. Archived from the original on 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
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  12. ^ a b Sladden, James; Collins, Liam; Connable, Ben (2024). "The Battle of Irpin River" (PDF). The British Army Review. No. 187. Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research; British Army.
  13. ^ Berehulak, Daniel; Gall, Carlotta (2022-04-11). "Bucha's Month of Terror". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  14. ^ Eisenberg, Igor (2022-08-25). "українська доблесть та російські прорахунки допомогли врятувати столицю. Стаття Вашингтон Пост" [Ukrainian valor and Russian miscalculations helped save the capital. Washington Post article]. Obozrevatel (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
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  20. ^ a b Eisenberg, Igor (2022-08-25). "Ігор Айзенберг: Битва за Київ: українська доблесть та російські прорахунки допомогли врятувати столицю. Стаття Вашингтон Пост" [Igor Eisenberg: The battle for Kyiv: Ukrainian valor and Russian miscalculations helped save the capital. Washington Post Article]. Obozrevatel (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  21. ^ Mundy, Vincent (2022-05-11). "Ukraine's 'hero river' helped save Kyiv. But what now for its newly restored wetlands?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  22. ^ Yuzefyk, Kateryna (2022-11-28). "Підірвати дамбу, щоб врятувати Київ" [Blow up a dam to save Kyiv]. Ukraїner. Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  23. ^ Semenova, Inna. "Атланти операції. Як генерал-полковник Олександр Сирський став одним зі співавторів нових перемог ЗСУ на сході та допоміг відстояти Київ" [Atlanta operations. As Colonel-General, Oleksandr Syrskyi became one of the co-authors of new victories of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the east and helped to defend Kyiv]. nv.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  24. ^ "Битва за Київ: маловідомі подробиці про те, як українці відстояли столицю" [The battle for Kiev: little-known details about how Ukrainians defended the capital]. forbes.ua (in Ukrainian). 2022-08-25. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  25. ^ "Командир 72 ОМБр ім. Чорних Запорожців розповідає про битву за село Мощун". АРГУМЕНТ. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  26. ^ Caldwell, Travis; O'Murchú, Seán F.; Haq, Sana H.; Said-Moorhouse, Lauren; Snowdon, Kathryn; Vogt, Adrienne (2022-03-22). "March 22, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  27. ^ Bondar, Grigory (2022-03-24). "Українська армія відтіснила війська РФ на схід від Києва" [Ukrainian army pushed back Russian troops east of Kyiv]. unian.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  28. ^ Nuzhnenko, Serhiy (2022-07-27). "Moshchun: The Ukrainian Village Rebuilding After The Russian Invasion". Radio Free Europe. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  29. ^ "Як село Мощун перетворили на форпост Києва під час наступу на столицю: історії захисників-нацгвардійців" [How the village of Moschun was turned into an outpost of Kyiv during the attack on the capital: stories of defenders-National Guardsmen]. kiev.informator.ua (in Ukrainian). 2022-07-19. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  30. ^ ""Теперішні бойові дії набагато жорсткіші": Боєць ЗСУ порівняв бої за Мощун із боями за ДАП" ["The current fighting is much tougher": A fighter of the Armed Forces of Ukraine compared the battles for Moschun with the battles for the DAP]. kyiv.media (in Ukrainian). 2022-04-13. Archived from the original on 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  31. ^ ""Ворог кинув усе можливе озброєння": Залужний розповів щемну історію про солдата, що захищав село Мощун 13 апр" ["The enemy threw all possible weapons": Zaluzhny told another story about a soldier who defended the village of Moschun]. ukr.net. 2022-04-13. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  32. ^ Пагулич, Роман; Кречко, Ярослав; Логінов, Єгор; Теребинська, Ольга (2022-10-02). "Росія відступає під вогнем армії України" [Russia retreats under fire from the Ukrainian army]. RadioFreeEurope (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  33. ^ "Російська армія відступає, щоби вдарити з новою силою по Україні?" [Is the Russian army retreating to hit Ukraine with renewed vigor?]. RadioFreeEurope (in Ukrainian). 2022-04-03. Archived from the original on 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  34. ^ "У селі Мощун на Київщині знищено 2 тис будинків із 2,8 тис" [In the village of Moschun in the Kyiv region, 2,000 out of 2,800 houses were destroyed]. Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (in Ukrainian). 2022-05-06. Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  35. ^ Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Journalists identify 100 Russian soldiers killed trying to seize Kyiv last March
  36. ^ The fate of Ukraine and the capital was decided in the battles for the towns and villages of Kyiv region – Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored the memory of the warriors fallen in the battle for Moshchun

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