«KYIV IN THREE DAYS»: DEFENDING THE CAPITAL

Relevance. The article is devoted to the synergy between the military and civilians in the defense of the capital during the first days of Russian aggression. The study focuses on the events of the first three days (February 24–26, 2022) of the Kyiv Defense Operation, during which the enemy’s plans for a rapid seizure of Kyiv were thwarted, and the initial steps were taken to transform life in the capital under wartime conditions. The aim of the work is to analyze the course of military operations around Kyiv during the first three days of the Russian invasion, identifying the key factors that led to the failure of the «blitzkrieg» strategy, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the city authorities’ measures regarding the city’ resilience under immediate military threat. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism and objectivity. The historical-chronological method was used to reconstruct the sequence of defensive actions, a systemic approach was applied to analyze the interaction between military and civilian structures, and the method of critical source analysis was employed to process information from the period of February 24–26, 2022. Results. The study proves the effectiveness of defensive actions around strategically important airfields in disrupting the Russian military’s «blitzkrieg», indicating a high level of preparedness for the invasion and the pre-planned defense of these facilities. The article emphasizes the critical importance of synergy between military and civilian actions, as well as the rapid mobilization and self-organization of Kyiv residents. Conclusions. This topic is currently in the initial stage of academic inquiry. Further research is required to analyze the «urban character» of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the personalization of heroes within the context of biographical studies, and the changes in urban lifestyle, education, and survival strategies of Kyiv residents. Future research into population displacement and changes in the demographic and social structure of the city remains highly promising.