Russian troops making corridor around Kyiv: Ukrainian defense official

As Russia continues to bombard the suburbs of the Ukrainian capital, its forces are now attempting to set up a “corridor” around Kyiv to block supply routes, according to a statement by Ukraine‘s deputy defense minister on Monday. 

“The enemy is trying to make a corridor around Kyiv and block transport routes,” said Hanna Maliar, Ukraine‘s Deputy Defense Minister. 

“The defense of Kyiv continues. Ground forces, Air Assault Forces, special operations forces, territorial defense are involved. Kyiv residents are also very active in the defense of Kyiv. It is very difficult for the enemy. But we must speak honestly: the enemy is not letting up attempts to seize Kyiv after all. Because taking Kyiv essentially means taking Ukraine. So that is their goal,” Maliar added. 

In a statement on Monday, Kyiv’s regional military administration said that areas lying around the western suburbs of Makariv, Irpin, Hostomel and Bucha continue to be highly dangerous and vulnerable to shelling by Russian forces. The administration added that the route to and from the city of Zhytomyr and Vyshhorod are also extremely prone to attacks. 

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“Over the past 24 hours, there have been more than 40 incidents of shelling by Russian troops of housing estates and social infrastructure,” the statement said.

On Sunday, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhail Podoliak said the cities of Kharkiv, Lutsk, Rivne, and Zhytomyr continue to be the worst hit by Russian airstrikes and missiles. 

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“More and more missiles every day. Mariupol under the ‘carpet’ bombing,” he said. “Russia no longer has a language, humanism, civilization. Only missiles, bombs and attempts to wipe Ukraine off the face of the earth,” Podoliak added. 

Furthermore, a thunderous explosion followed by sirens was heard in Kyiv in the early hours of Monday, according to a team of CNN journalists on the scene.