Russian forces first crossed the bridge over the
Irpin River at Moshchun late in the morning of 27 February, where they were engaged by mechanized units of Ukraine's
72nd Brigade's 5th Company and
territorial defense forces, forcing the Russian vehicles to retreat. Moshchun was subjected to regular mortar, artillery, and air bombardment from 28 February, and the 5th Company, responsible for the defense of the village, urged all remaining civilians to evacuate on 5 March. The Russian troops included the
76th Guards Air Assault Division under Sergey Chubarykin. Under pressure, Ukrainian forces retreated to the center of the village and regrouped. Later on, Ukrainian special forces armed with anti-tank weapons arrived as reinforcements. The Russians continuously attacked the village with "
Grads", artillery fire,
mortar shelling, airstrikes, drones, and attack helicopters. Russian forces also disabled Ukrainian drones and jammed communications in the area using
electronic warfare tactics. By mid-March, Russian forces still faced fierce resistance from Ukrainian defenders in the neighboring city of
Irpin, as well as other areas west of the capital. Having failed to break through Ukrainian defenses in these areas, the Russian army chose to prioritize advancing on Kyiv through Moshchun. At the beginning of the war, part of the
Kozarovichi dam was blown up to allow water from the Kyiv reservoir to enter the Irpin River in an effort to raise its level and create a natural barrier. The river exceeded its banks by 1.5–2 meters, making crossings difficult. The flooding made it almost impossible for Russian troops stationed at Hostomel Airport to reach Moshchun, which they considered as a gateway to Kyiv. On March 11, Russian troops launched a massive assault on Moshchun from all sides. Ukrainian troops brought reinforcements into the village in an attempt to repel the offensive. Under the influence of heavy artillery fire, Ukrainian forces gradually retreated to the outskirts of the village over the following days. In the aftermath, Ukrainian troops set up defensive positions in the forest near Moshchun. Around March 14, Vdovychenko offered to the Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine,
Valerii Zaluzhnyi to retreat from Moshchun. The General replied by saying "If you move away, then Kyiv" and "We will look for forces and means". The command decided to continue the defense of the village and change its tactics. Vdovychenko began to rotate troops every three days, saying "Due to the density of shelling and the cold, it was impossible [for them] to stay longer." He also introduced a new battalion into the battle. A few days later, Ukrainian units surrounded Moshchun on two sides, and began to heavily shell the Russian troop concentrations and river crossings in the village. The Ukrainian army then pushed Russian troops back to the Irpin River. On March 21, the Armed Forces of Ukraine completely liberated the village of Moshchun from Russian occupation. == Military value ==