By James Mackenzie

LUKYANIVKA, Ukraine (Reuters ) – Last week’s violence in Lukyanivka village near Kyiv was evident by the charred remains of two Russian tanks and a number of armoured personnel carrier. In a nearby field, lies the burned corpse of an American soldier.

Valeriy Hudym from a nearby village said that there were mortars strong enough to make it scary in the cellar. He spoke out on Sunday after Ukrainian soldiers seized Lukyanivka’s control in a battle lasting five hours with the Russians.

“Tanks, artillery and machine guns were all firing. Hudym claimed that all possibilities were available. In the fight to retake the village from the Ukrainians, two soldiers took part in intense fighting.

Over a month after Russia invaded Ukraine, heavy fighting erupted in defense of Kyiv’s capital.

Although these towns and villages might not be important in the history, it is where Russia’s advance was rebuffed, often by smaller, mobile Ukrainian units armed with anti-tank weapons from abroad.

Moscow said Tuesday at the Istanbul peace talks that it would dramatically reduce operations in Kyiv for dialogue.

Residents of Lukyanivka (two hours drive from Kyiv) recall warning Russian soldiers to evacuate their village.

Svitlana is my neighbor. They were told by her openly that she was Svitlana. Hudym stated, “You will be executed here.” Reuters couldn’t confirm the information independently.

In the areas surrounding the capital’s northern part, the reverse has occurred. Ukrainian troops reclaimed territory in small battles after losing the first month. However, they did not win a decisive victory.

Russian defence ministry didn’t immediately reply to my request for comment about the situation military around Kyiv.

According to military experts, these small victories proved to be a major psychological victory against a stronger enemy.

Experts also stated that they serve strategic purposes – keeping Russian artillery closer to the city center and preventing the invading armies from encircling Kyiv.

Heavy bombardment of cities including Kharkiv, Mariupol and others has occurred as Russian ground advances were stalled. It is believed that this was a result of Russian frustration with the lack of progress.

According to the city authorities, Kyiv was also hit by missiles and shells. At least 264 civilians were killed. However, witnesses claim that the extent of destruction, especially in the city’s centre, was much less.

Russia calls its action in Ukraine a “special operations” that aims to demilitarize its neighbor. It denied attacking civilians.

Reuters reported that two Russian heavy tanks were taken by Ukrainian troops in Lukyanivka during fighting.

We knocked out all the Russians. Marat Saifulin of the Ukrainian Brotherhood battalion, which participated in the capture of the village after an assault that lasted between noon and dusk.

STOPPERS AND RESISTANCE

William Burns, Director at CIA in the early months of March stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to seize Kyiv as soon as possible after the February 24 invasion.

Russian officials and Putin have repeatedly stated that Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine went according to plan.

Two setbacks in the beginning suggested that it might not be simple sailing for a Russian force available, which was estimated by diplomats to have been around 190,000. Russia has not yet provided a specific number to be deployed in Ukraine.

Russian paratroopers attacked Hostomel Airport, which was a possible bridgehead north of Kyiv on the first day. According to Wall Street Journal, heavy fighting in the area slowed down the Russian advance towards the capital.

Satellite imagery captured another huge column of military equipment, measuring 40 miles (64km) in length and traveling from the same direction.

Some Western defense officials considered it a significant threat to Kyiv during the initial days of war. However, the group had mostly dispersed by March 10, with some vehicles moving into nearby towns.

In March, a senior U.S. defense official stated that Russia’s march on Kyiv (including the convoy) seemed to have stalled due to logistical issues such as a lack of fuel and food, as well low morale within some units.

Small units of Ukrainian soldiers attacked advancing tanks columns with anti-tank weapons, some using the U.S. Javelin system. This was another factor that contributed to Russia’s downfall.

A convoy of Russian tanks were repelled in Brovary to the east after they were all destroyed during an ambush that was captured by pro-Ukrainian forces.

In Bucha to the north near Irpin the mayor of the city filmed scenes showing the destruction of tanks and other armoured vehicles after being subjected to fierce attacks.

To halt the advance of the enemy, Ukrainian forces destroyed an important bridge that connected northwestern villages to Kyiv. Irpin’s mayor stated Monday that Ukraine is now under full control. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm Irpin’s claim.

There have been few days of no significant advances in Kyiv as a result of Russia’s weaknesses and flexible defense strategy.

The city is home to only half of the 3.4 million people who lived in peacetime. However, signs have begun to return to normality, such as shops opening, cinemas and restaurants being opened and residents enjoying the sunshine in the parks.

Last week, the Head of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff feigned hope that the immediate threat to capital might be diminishing.

The first phase in Ukraine’s operation was completed, he said. Russian forces would now focus on the Donbass area in the eastern part of Ukraine.

It seemed that this was consistent with Western intelligence assessment, which indicated that Russian forces had, at the very least, abandoned active attempts to capture Kyiv after heavy losses to unexpectedly strong Ukrainian defences.

PAYING PENSIONS POOR MORALE

There are many signs that the cost of staying in Kyiv is evident on roads. There is little certainty as to when or where the next missile may fall, so gas and electricity are frequently cut.

Hanna Yevdokimova, 92, said that the invasion of Krasylivka was her third conflict, after World War Two and the Soviet-Finnish Winter War (1939-1940). She also saw German soldiers marching through Krasylivka.

The missile debris that struck her house last week caused extensive damage. Unidentified fragments of Russian Kalibr missiles were found in the neighbor’s yard 100 metres away (328 feet).

“What are my options?” “All I want to do is rebuild my home so I can be at peace in my own house,” she stated.

Lukyanivka residents claimed they lived in Russian occupation for almost a month as virtual prisoner(s) in their homes. They had their phones taken and were restricted from moving under an armed escort.

In spite of their damaged properties, they are now free to move about as they wish.

Heavy shelling was heard near Makariv west Kyiv last week. The area remains contested. Vadym Tokar, the mayor of the city, travelled to surrounding villages in military fatigues while handing out pensions for the old.

Vasyl Chaylo of Peremoha describes what he called fearful Russian conscripts who are short on food and disciplined with tougher professional fighters.

They fear. He said that some people are afraid and don’t want to fight. However, special forces keep them in check.

Chaylo said that he asked the tank crews set up near his home how long they would keep dry rations. They replied with a week. They came to our house on the eighth day, and told us that they didn’t have anything to eat.

Russia’s defence minister has admitted that conscripts participated in the conflict after previous denials from the Kremlin or military authorities. It did not respond immediately to our request for information about the rations.

Halyna Shybka was a nurse at a Kyiv military hospital for over 25 years. She ignored all the pleas of her grandchildren. Instead, she stayed with Mykola, their husband, in Kalynivka near Brovary’s frontlines, which they had lived in since 1974.

She said that they tried to convince us to go with them in any way possible, but we wanted to stay,” and she began to make tea in her tiny kitchen. The sound of rumbling Ukrainian artillery was in the background.

    “This is our land, we’re not going to leave.”