Europe News: As Ukraine prepares for winter amid fears of renewed Russian aggression, many Ukrainians are taking precautions to ensure they can cope with potential
In early March 2022, as Russian troops approached Kyiv, the last stronghold on the way to the Ukrainian capital was the town of Moshchun. Russian marines built three pontoon bridges to gain a foothold across the Irpin River.
After days of heavy combat, Ukrainian forces managed to destroy two pontoons but asked their high command to retreat due to heavy losses. They were denied, as that would have opened the road to Kyiv.
Instead, by blowing up a dam of the Kyiv Reservoir, Ukrainian forces flooded Irpin allowing them to regroup and push back Russian troops who were suddenly stuck in a swamp.
how ukraine managed to fend off repeated russian attempts to advance on kyiv in the early days, of course, of the war. matt rivers takes us to a town near the capital that was really key in keeping russian forces at bay. reporter: outgoing fire from a frozen fox hole. not far from the flaming pieces of an exploding armored vehicle. as the quiet still of a nighttime bunker is shattered by what the soldier says was a direct hit right nearby. this is what happened in the tiny town of moshchun. it is here where the battle of kyiv was won. by early march, russian forces had flooded south. they had arrived just west of moschun. the irpin river, the only thing
at moshchun. while the capital is safe for you, the southern seaport of mariupol is dire where civilians are trapped, trying to survive. and in the ukrainian bunker, they say they will not surrender despite russian ultimatums that have now expired. in addition to military supplies, there are civilians fallen victim to this war. we appeal and plead all world leaders to help us. if mariupol falls, it would give russia the land bridge to the crimea peninsula they ve long sought and free up sources in the east. one ukrainian member of congress says that more weapons are needed. and in donbas it s started we need the weapons, aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles. griff: and that marine