The Battle of Mykolaiv was a battle of the Russo-Ukrainian War which was fought from 26 to 27 February 2022 in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. On the afternoon of 26 February 2022, 12 Russian Army tanks broke through the Ukrainian defenses at Kakhovka on the Dnieper and advanced on Mykolaiv, giving the Ukrainians five hours to prepare artillery and other arms. By that evening, Mayor Vitaly Kim ordered civilians to stay at home and away from windows, and, ten minutes later, fighting broke out. Russian forces captured the Mykolaiv Zoo, but, after three hours of fighting, the Ukrainians drove the Russians out of Mykolaiv. Russian tanks proceeded to bypass the city as extensive fighting continued in the city, and, by the morning of 27 February, Mayor Kim declared victory, although the city was extensively damaged. On 28 February, Russian troops from Kherson advanced on Mykolaiv. On 1 March, the Ukrainians defeated a Russian column near Bashtanka to the north of Mykolaiv, and, on 4 March, the Russians were driven from the city but soon counterattacked. The Ukrainians captured Kulbakino Airport, and the Ukrainians held the drawbridge spanning the Southern Bug. On 5 March 2022, the Ukrainian Ground Forces recaptured Mykolaiv, and the Russians were finally cleared from the region in April.