Battle of Moshchun
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 2022 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." 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. In the course of a rapid advance, Russian troops took control of Chernobyl, Ivankiv, Dymer, and Borodyanka. They also reached the outskirts of Bucha. 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. Battle On March 5, a small number of Russian special forces entered and occupied the northwestern part of Moshchun. 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. Under pressure,