Kiev region completely liberated: Ukraine Minister
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Kiev: Ukraine claims it has liberated the capital Kiev from Russian forces. However, there are no independent reports to bear out it.
Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar announced that the entire Kiev region is free after weeks of fighting.
The minister in a social media post said areas including Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel and other regions have been liberated from invaders.
Meanwhile Russia last week said it would focus on eastern regions, reducing its combat operations in capital Kiev and the northern city of Chernihiv.
At least 200 civilians deaths reported from Irpin, located just about 46 km from the capital city, since Russia started attack on February 24, according to Ukrainian authorities.
As many as 70,000 people have managed to flee Irpin during the violence, BBC reported.
Last week violent attacks reported from Kiev's north –west region of Bucha after Russia forces entered the area killing hundreds of civilians.
Bucha Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said that streets of the town were covered with corpses alongside having to dig mass graves for some 300 people.
The corpses were found shot dead with their hands tied, Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted.
Since the invasion began, Hostomel had also witnessed heavy fighting as the Russian forces were trying to seize an airfield, IANS reported.