War in Ukraine. Volume 8 Battle of Kyiv, February-April 2022

The assault on Kyiv presented the main effort of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and remains, arguably, the most decisive battle of the war. In a month of bitter fighting on the approaches to the capital, the cream of the Russian military was lost and Ukraine's survival as a nation secured. Volume 8 of the War in Ukraine series is one of the first published histories to examine this battle in its entirety, from the dramatic heliborne assault on Hostomel to the mauling of Russian units fleeing encirclement during Ukraine's counteroffensive. Drawing from a synthesis of newly available Ukrainian and Russian accounts and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering, Volume 8 builds upon the work conducted in Volumes 2, 5, and 6 to provide a richer and more comprehensive picture of the Russian axes of advance on Kyiv and their eventual defeats. The opening events of the operation are recast in the light of contemporary evidence, revealing new aspects of the controversial Ukrainian counterattack against Hostomel Airport late on 24 February 24 for instance, whilst many previously unsung engagements of the subsequent fighting are detailed herein for the first time.  This volume, extensively illustrated with full colour photography, maps, and original artworks of the soldiers, vehicles, and aircraft involved, will be enjoyed by any individual interested in the Russo-Ukrainian war fought since 2014 - and, especially, the all-out Russian invasion of Ukraine, since 2022.