Irpin Mayor: Return to the liberated city still impossible

Valentyna Romanenko – Tuesday, 29 March 2022 15:07

In the city of Irpin, which has been liberated from the Russian occupying forces, 50% of all buildings are destroyed. The Mayor of Irpin stresses that the local authorities will continue to evacuate local residents to ensure their safety and security.

Source: Oleksandr Markushyn, Mayor of Irpin, in an interview on the joint TV broadcast on 29 March

According to Markushyn: "I would like to take this opportunity to call on everyone: do not come back yet. The city is still not safe. We still hear gunshots and shelling, Grads [multiple rocket launchers] are even still being deployed. Today you still can’t return. I will absolutely inform everyone as soon as it is possible to return."

Details: Markushyn stressed that in fact evacuation from the city will continue, in order to enable the local authorities to work. Their task at present is to bury all those who died over the last few weeks.

According to Markushyn, about 50% of the city has been destroyed, including much of its critical infrastructure. However, the local authorities will restore as much of it as possible. 

The mayor estimated that about 3,500-4,000 people remain in Irpin (mostly in residential areas). Though they categorically refuse to leave, the local authorities continue trying to persuade them to evacuate, as the Russian troops continue to fire.

Earlier: Irpin’s liberation from the Russian occupying forces was announced on 28 March.