Ukrainian counter-offensives are continuing as the Russian army gets closer to the capital.
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Artillery shots are so intense, at times, that we are not distinguished from each other. The noise looks like a continuous rumbling, and it becomes difficult to discern the explosions. A flux of fire falls on the fighters of the first line. Black smoke clouds obscure the horizon. The fronts of the northwestern kyiv have again embraced, in recent days, and the Ukrainian capital, for the first time, Wednesday, March 23, was struck by the Russian artillery – the bombings being so far due to aerial raids and missile shots.
At the last checkpoint before the Irpine front line – closed to the press since the death of three journalists in the sector – the Ukrainian soldiers quietly smoke cigarettes. The ambulancers and civil volunteers have, for their part, cautiously left the crossroads, very exhibited, at the edge of the forest, and have been sheltered between two buildings. The Ukrainian artillery, slightly located, participates in the fighting: shells and rockets whistle above the heads and fly to the Russian positions.
The Ukrainian army claims to be conducting counter-offensive operations at the doors of kyiv. Two information seems to converge in this direction. First, on the east front, the Russian forces who had reached the surroundings of Brovary were repulsed. Secondly, on the West Front, the city of Makariv, near the Jytomyr road, has been reconquered. Regarding the villages of irpine, Bantha and hostomel, near the immediate vicinity of northwestern kyiv, the situation remains confused. An announcements of various unofficial Ukrainian sources, according to which the Russian forces would be encircled, are not confirmed, nothing indicating that they have been cut off from their backs to the north.
Sixty-thirteen dead and 297 wounded
In kyiv, the approach of the Russian army is even more felt than before. Because, in addition to missiles now fall regularly in the North and West Districts of the City, Russian artillery has hit the Nyvky district on Wednesday (about 10 kilometers from the forehead). Buildings have been hailed with bursts and windows of broken businesses. Traces of mortar shells were visible on the asphalt of the surrounding streets. This artillery salve injured four people, according to kyiv City Hall. The district Chevtchenko was also affected Wednesday by rocket fire. The official assessment of affected civilians in the Ukrainian capital is now 73 dead and 297 wounded.
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