Battle of Brovary

Coordinates: 50°30′41″N 30°47′25″E / 50.51139°N 30.79028°E / 50.51139; 30.79028
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Battle of Brovary
Part of the Kyiv offensive during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Date9 March – 1 April 2022
(3 weeks and 2 days)
Location50°30′41″N 30°47′25″E / 50.51139°N 30.79028°E / 50.51139; 30.79028
Result Ukrainian victory
Belligerents
Russia Russia Ukraine Ukraine
Units involved

 Russian Armed Forces

 Ukrainian Armed Forces

National Guard of Ukraine

National Police of Ukraine

Casualties and losses
Per Ukraine: 80 vehicles destroyed (90th Tank Division)[3] Unknown
30+ civilians killed[4][5][6][7]

The battle of Brovary was a military engagement during the Kyiv offensive of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine for control of the suburb of Brovary, to the east of the capital city of Ukraine, Kyiv. Russian forces advanced west from southern Chernihiv Oblast and were engaged by Ukrainian forces. Control of the suburb was contested until Russian forces withdrew on 2 April 2022.

Battle[edit]

Ukrainian civilians evacuating Brovary before the arrival of Russian troops

March[edit]

On the evening of 9 March 2022, a column of Russian armored vehicles advanced into Brovary from the north via Highway M01.[8][9][10] The column, consisting of the 6th and 239th Tank Regiments of the 90th Guards Tank Division,[1] moved very slowly and included a number of obsolete vehicles, such as older T-72 tanks, advancing without infantry support.[11] In addition, the convoy was headed by self-propelled artillery such as TOS-1, which were especially vulnerable targets.[10]

On 10 March, at Skybyn village near Brovary,[12] Ukrainian forces saw an opportunity to ambush the Russian troops and attacked. Using artillery and antitank missiles, the Ukrainians disabled several tanks and armored personnel carriers.[11] A Ukrainian soldier later stated that the ambushers initially targeted the first and last vehicles in the convoy to trap the rest in the middle. The attack was not entirely successful, as the Ukrainians were unable to cut off the Russians' route of retreat.[10] However, the Russian column suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat.[13][14] Ukrainian officials claimed that the commander of the 6th Tank Regiment, Colonel Andrei Zakharov, was killed in the skirmish.[1][15] Some Russian soldiers reportedly fled on foot into the nearby woods and villages.[11]

Between 11 and 12 March, the Ukrainians claimed to have destroyed a column of 80 military vehicles belonging to the 228th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 90th Tank Division near the outskirts of the city.[16]

Despite the retreat of the 90th Guards Tank Division, heavy fighting erupted in villages east of the ambush site,[10] where fighting lasted for several days between Russian and Ukrainian troops.[10] Russian survivors of the ambush shot civilians in the villages, suspecting them of aiding the local defenders.[11]

Food warehouse in Kvitneve village after the strike on 12 March

On 12 March, Russian strike destroyed a food warehouse in Kvitneve village near Brovary (one of the largest food storage facilities in Europe). 50,000 tons of food were destroyed. This could be an attempt to cut access to food for Kyiv.[17][18] Russia claimed it had disabled the Ukraine military's main centre for radio intelligence in Brovary with a high-precision strike.[19] The mayor of Brovary, Ihor Sapozhko said fighting were taking place nearly 25 kilometers from the city and claimed the Russians had suffered heavy casualties, and was quoted "We are ready for them."[20]

On 29 March, Russia started to shell the Brovary area. A warehouse was set ablaze and nearby villages sustained heavy damage.[21]

On 30 March, Sapozhko stated that Ukrainian forces had pushed back Russian troops and recaptured the villages of Ploske, Svitylnia, and Hrebel'ky, with ongoing clashes in Nova Basan.[22]

April[edit]

On 1 April, Ukraine claimed the recapture of the villages of Rudnya, Shevchenkove, Bobryk, Stara Basan, Nova Basan, Makiyivka, Pohreby, Bazhanivka, Volodymyrivka, Shnyakivka, Salne, Sofiyivka, and Havrylivka.[23] Sapozhko claimed that Russian forces had "almost left" the entire Brovary district,[24] with Ukrainian forces engaging in "mopping up" operations.[citation needed]

On 2 April 2022 the whole of Kyiv Oblast, where Brovary is located in, was declared free of Russian troops by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Ukrainian military defeat tank regiment of Russian troops, eliminate commander Zakharov in Brovarsky district - Defense Intelligence". Interfax Kyiv. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Rapid Operational Response Unit destroys Russian tanks in the Kyiv region's Brovary district".
  3. ^ "За дві доби на Чернігівщині знищено до 80 одиниць ворожої техніки".
  4. ^ "Occupiers kill 11 civilians in Brovary district of Kyiv region".
  5. ^ "Six victims shot dead by Russian troops found in Shevchenkove, Kyiv Region".
  6. ^ "18 people killed in Ukraine's Odessa in missile attack - regional authorities". Reuters. 24 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Ukraine Casualty Monitor: AOAV data on harm to civilians by explosive weapons - Ukraine | ReliefWeb".
  8. ^ "Під Броварами розбили колону окупантів, шукають втікачів". Коментарі Україна (in Ukrainian). 9 March 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  9. ^ Johnson, Sabrina (10 March 2022). "Battle for Kyiv begins: Ukraine repels Russian tanks on edge of capital". Metro. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e Andrew E. Kramer (11 March 2022). "How a Line of Russian Tanks Became an Inviting Target for Ukrainians". New York Times. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d Sudarsan Raghavan (14 March 2022). "How Kyiv's outgunned defenders have kept Russian forces from capturing the capital". Washington Post. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  12. ^ Footage shows Ukrainians' attack on Russian tanks in Kyiv suburb, forcing 'retreat,' officials claim [1]
  13. ^ Salisbury, Josh (10 March 2022). "Dramatic video shows 'Russian tanks destroyed' in ambush near Kyiv". Daily Standard. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Ukrainian Forces Destroy Russian Tank Convoy Near Kyiv". RFE/RL. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Drone footage shows ambush on Russian tanks resulting in death of the commander". AS.com. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  16. ^ "За дві доби на Чернігівщині знищено до 80 одиниць ворожої техніки".
  17. ^ Welsh, Caitlin; Jr, Joseph S. Bermudez; Jun, Jennifer; Dodd, Emma (16 June 2022). "Spotlight on Damage to Ukraine's Agricultural Infrastructure since Russia's Invasion". Center for Strategic and International Studies. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Russia continues assault on Ukrainian cities as it moves to surround Kyiv". Radio France internationale. 12 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Russia disables Ukraine military's main radio intelligence facility". Business Standard India. IANS. 12 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  20. ^ Mohan, Geeta; Sawant, Gaurav C. (12 March 2022). "Russians will not take anything from here, says Mayor of Brovary city | Ground Report". India Today. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Aftermath of Brovary bombing". euronews. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Реальный Киев | Украина Война Новости 🇺🇦". Telegram. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Ukraine regains control of over 20 settlements". Ukrinform. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  24. ^ "Окупанти пішли з Броварського району під Києвом – мер Броварів". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Ukraine 'retakes whole Kyiv region' as Russia looks east". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 12 July 2022.