Day 34 of war in Ukraine: Irpin liberated amid counterattacks, missiles target fuel depots, talks start in Turkey

Rudnyts’ke, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine: Ukrainian soldiers with an anti tank portable weapon in the town of Rudnyts’ke. Ukrainian forces have reclaimed some ground and have prevented Russians from making further significant territorial gains in the area. Photo: ZUMAPRESS.com/SCANPIX
On Tuesday, March 29, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued their counterattacks after retaking Irpin, near the capital Kyiv. Russia focused its air strikes on Ukrainian fuel depots and talks between Russia and Ukraine began in Turkey, Ukrinform and the BBC report.
«Our Irpin has been liberated from the Moscow evil!!! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to its defenders! Eternal memory to the fallen Heroes!» Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn posted on Facebook. Markushyn added that the residents are advised not to return for now due to continued danger.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Defence Forces wrote in its report on the last 24 hours in the war to Tuesday morning that its defence operation in the eastern, south-eastern, and north-eastern directions, «while in some areas our troops carry out successful counterattacks».
The Russian troops continued missile and bomb strikes, trying to destroy infrastructure and residential areas of Ukrainian cities. The Russians are now focusing on fuel storage facilities in order to complicate logistics and create conditions for a humanitarian crisis, the Ukrainian side claimed.
The Joint Forces of Ukraine repulsed seven enemy attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk directions on Monday and destroyed 12 tanks, 10 infantry fighting vehicles and three vehicles, according to Ukrainian military.
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«The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the previous day downed 17 air targets – eight warplanes, three helicopters, four UAVs of various types, and two cruise missiles,» the General Staff reported.
In Turkey, talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations have started. The BBC reports quoting Financial Times that Russia has dropped demands that Ukraine is «denazified» and is prepared to allow it to join the European Union as long as it is not militarily aligned.
The newspaper quoted four people close to the talks saying a possible deal would involve Ukraine abandoning its drive for NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said his county was not «trading people, land or sovereignty».
See the latest video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.