After weeks of heavy fighting against the Russians, the Ukrainian liberation of Irpin offers those who stayed behind — mainly the most vulnerable populations — a chance to escape to the capital.
IRPIN, UKRAINE — After weeks of Russian onslaught, the Ukrainian army has finally liberated the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, offering the elderly and disabled a chance to evacuate.
While thousands had already fled Irpin, a town of about 60,000, many didn’t dare leave during the attacks — which resulted in the deaths of a yet unknown number of civilians.
On Sunday and Monday, good Samaritans could be seen helping Irpin residents, many of them elderly and with large bags of belongings, across an intentionally-destroyed bridge to Kyiv — one of the many barriers the Ukrainian army has used to stop the Russians from reaching Kyiv itself.
Although Russia’s defense ministry said Tuesday that it would withdraw forces from around Kyiv and Chernihiv, US and British officials have cast doubt on the claims.
Volunteers could be seen carrying a woman with one leg out on a stretcher past a line of bombed cars.
In a car, another volunteer made room to evacuate a limping dog — one with a collar but no owner in sight.
Ukrainian volunteers helping a disabled woman evacuate on March 27, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Ratushnyak / WhoWhatWhy
Residents evacuate crossing the wrecked bridge on March 28, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Ratushnyak / WhoWhatWhy
Injured dog in front of a wrecked van on March 28, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Ratushnyak / WhoWhatWhy
Residents evacuate crossing a wrecked bridge on March 28, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Ratushnyak / WhoWhatWhy
A Ukrainian soldier covers a dog with a blanket in front of a bombed-out store, March 28, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Ratushnyak / WhoWhatWhy
Residents evacuating over wreckage on March 28, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Ratushnyak / WhoWhatWhy
An injured dog joins a Ukrainian man evacuating in the backseat of a volunteer’s car on March 28, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Ratushnyak / WhoWhatWhy
With aid from a Ukrainian soldier, an elderly woman evacuates across the wrecked bridge on March 28, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Ratushnyak / WhoWhatWhy
Volunteers carry a disabled woman in a stretcher evacuating on March 27, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Ratushnyak / WhoWhatWhy
