Nobody claimed Irpin even if the troops passed it. Ukraine subjected the area to horrific bombardment from Kiev. It makes no sense to stay there as the place is a kill zone. The original Kiev pincer was to tie the Kiev garrison and the movement of the Ukrainian forces from the West. It allowed the Crimean and DNR forces to take hold of southeast. And take some 90,000 best Ukrainian forces into pincer in Donbas. Now the Kievan group is moving to help them finish the pincer.
Sure, that was the plan all along. That's why they flew in troops to grab the local airport. Dividing the Russian attack in four columns was stupid.
Darth Putin @DarthPutinKGB ยท
Day 38 of my 3 day war. My army advances backwards after a glorious defeat in Kiev & I am reminded of when I said I could conquer the city in 2 weeks.
I remain a master strategist
The usual point of holding a place like Irpin is to deny it to the enemy. Its a good crossing point for the Irpin river. Its on the highway to Kiev. Its a crossroads for highways headed to every strategic direction. It can be used to turn the Irpin river line. Its two-three km from the airport at Hostomel (around which there has been very heavy fighting). The Russians had to hold it or open themselves to all kinds of trouble.
Anyway, irrelevant now. The Russians are retreating and the Ukrainians have followed far beyond the Irpin river line.