Ukraine minister says regained control of ‘whole Kyiv region’.
Ukraine has regained control of “the whole Kyiv region” after invading Russian forces retreated from some key towns near the Ukrainian capital, deputy defence minister Ganna Maliar has said.
The spokesman added Russia would like to continue talks with Ukraine in neighbouring Belarus but Kyiv opposed the idea.
Russia and Ukraine held several rounds of talks in Belarus last month before their delegation met in Istanbul last week.
Ukraine and its Western allies reported mounting evidence of Russia withdrawing its forces from around Kyiv and building up troop strength in eastern Ukraine.
Russian police have detained 176 people at protests against Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, an NGO said.
Ukrainian forces continue to advance against withdrawing Russian forces in the vicinity of Kyiv, British military intelligence has said. »