Ukraine Says Regained Control Of "Whole Kyiv Region"

Russia Ukraine War: Irpin, Bucha, Gostomel and the whole Kyiv region were liberated, Ukraine's deputy defence minister said on Facebook.

Ukraine has regained control of "the whole Kyiv region" after invading Russian forces retreated from some key towns near the Ukrainian capital, deputy defence minister Ganna Maliar said on Saturday.

"Irpin, Bucha, Gostomel and the whole Kyiv region were liberated from the invader," Maliar said on Facebook, referring to towns that have been heavily destroyed by fighting.

All three towns lie northwest of Kyiv and have suffered heavy destruction since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Irpin and Bucha, commuters towns outside Kyiv, were retaken by the Ukrainian army this week.