According to Illia Ponomarenko, defence writer for The Kyiv Independent, Russia’s military presence northwest, west, and east of Kyiv has “simply ceased to exist.” “The Ukrainian military have recovered control of all major areas, including Borodyanka and Ivankiv,” he wrote, adding, “Ukrainian forces are clearing up Bucha, Vorzel, and Hostomel.” Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg believes Russian forces are reorganising rather than retiring, while Ukrainian authorities claim Russian soldiers are losing territory rather than retreating on their own.

Many fear that now that violence has ceased in Kyiv, eastern Ukraine’s Donbas area may become the focal point of the conflict in the coming weeks.