Ukraine`s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar announced that the entire Kyiv region has been liberated from Russian forces after weeks of fierce fighting. In a social media post late Saturday, the Minister said: "Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel, and the rest of the Kyiv region have been liberated from the invaders," Ukrayinska Pravda reported.

The announcement comes after Russia said last week that it would "drastically reduce" combat operations around the capital Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv, and instead focus on the eastern regions. Ukrainian authorities have claimed that at least 200 civilians have been killed in Irpin, located about 46 km from the capital city, since Russia launched the invasion on February 24.