Russian Military Blocks Kiev From West as Paratroopers Conduct Landing Op Outside City – MoD

Russian forces launched a special operation on 24 February under orders from President Vladimir Putin. Its goals were described as protection of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.

The Russian armed forces have successfully conducted a landing operation at the Gostomel airfield located on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital – Kiev – the Russian Defence Ministry has stated.

"More than 200 Russian helicopters were involved in the operation [...] During the capture of the airfield, more than 200 nationalists from the special units of Ukraine were killed. There were no casualties among the Russian Armed Forces", ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov reported.

The ministry noted that the success of the operation was assured by the Russian military's work on suppressing the area's air defences, isolation of the combat zone via the use of aviation, and conducting of electronic warfare. Konashenkov explained that by landing troops in Gostomel, located north-west of Ukraine's capital, Russian forces effectively blocked Kiev from the west.

Russian Special Operation in Ukraine

The deployment of Russian troops follows the order to launch a special operation by President Vladimir Putin on 24 February. Putin said that Russia can no longer stand aside as Ukrainian forces are killing the people of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), which he labelled "genocide".

The president called on the Ukrainian armed forces to surrender without a fight and refuse to follow criminal orders from the Ukrainian leadership. Putin said that the main goals of the Russian operation is the defence of the DPR and LPR, and demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.

Western nations and their allies condemned the operation calling it an "invasion" and on 24 February slapped new economic sanctions on Russia. Moscow said it was prepared for this development because it expected it, and vowed to respond in kind. The West has since called on all sides to stop fighting and engage in negotiations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow was ready to sit down at the negotiating table once Ukraine lays down its arms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent a proposal to Putin to sit down for talks. The Kremlin responded that Moscow is ready to send ministerial- and administrative-level delegations to Minsk for talks.