At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russians destroyed 90% of the air defence of the Kharkiv region

On the first day of the full-scale invasion, Russians destroyed 90% of the air defence of the Kharkiv region.

The head of the Kharkiv garrison, Serhii Melnyk, stated this in the documentary film “Year. Kharkiv Region.”

On February 24, Melnyk contacted the commander of the 302nd Air Defence Regiment's brigade and was told that almost the entire brigade had been destroyed. However, there was a number of S-300 missiles left, which they managed to put on alert to defend Kharkiv.

Kharkiv's bypass road has become a frontline, and in some cases, Russians have crossed it, said Pavlo Fedosenko, commander of the 92nd Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On February 27, a Russian subversive reconnaissance group made a breakthrough and entered the city. The Ukrainian military saw Russian tanks, Tiger armoured vehicles, and trucks with personnel.

"They (the Russians — ed.) spread out across the city and tried to show, apparently, the whole world that Kharkiv had already been captured. The task was to hold the main positions until the arrival of the main Russian forces," said Melnyk.

The Ukrainians fought the Russians, so they were forced to hide in a school.

"The battle lasted eight hours. The Russians refused to surrender and stay alive. They were ready for anything. The training of these people, these terrorists, was at a high level. Every single one of them was killed," Melnyk added.