The Minister of Defense of Ukraine announced that the Ukrainian forces regained control over the entire region of Kyiv as more than 30 towns and villages were retaken.

Earlier this week, Russia announced it would "drastically" reduce military actions near the capital Kyiv and the northern city of Chernihiv, focusing instead on Ukraine's eastern regions.

Russian troops have been retreating from key cities. The Gostomel Airport near Kyiv, where fighting had been going on since the first day of the war, is back in Ukrainian hands. Meanwhile, according to the Odessa city council, the city was attacked by missiles early this morning and there have been reports of fires in that broke out some areas.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Belarus-24 TV channel that Ukraine was a "difficult and hostile country to Russia", but that demilitarization was under way. According to him, the country's military potential and infrastructure have been largely destroyed, which was one of the Russian goals. According to Peskov, the other goal was independence of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.