Eastern Ukraine offensive

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Eastern Ukraine offensive
Part of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and War in Donbas

Russian advances in southeastern Ukraine,
22 March 2022
Date24 February 2022 – present
(3 weeks and 6 days)
Location
Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Russia
 Donetsk People's Republic
 Luhansk People's Republic		  Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Vladimir Zhoga †[1]
Andrey Sukhovetsky † (place of death disputed)
Adam Delimkhanov
Oleg Mityaev † (Ukrainian claim) [2]
Andrey Paliy †[3]		 Ukraine Col. Anatoly Shevchenko
Ukraine Valery Hudz †[4]
Denys Prokopenko
(Azov Battalion)[5]
Volodymyr Baranyuk
(36th Naval Infantry Brigade)[6]
Units involved

 Russian Armed Forces

Donetsk People's Republic DPR Armed Forces

Luhansk People's Republic LPR People's Militia

 Ukrainian Armed Forces

Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Eastern Ukraine offensive is an ongoing theatre of operation in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in the two Donbas provinces (oblasts) in Ukraine: Luhansk Oblast and Donetsk Oblast.[7]

Overview[edit]

Fighting has also taken place in Sievierodonetsk. At the Siege of Mariupol, Russians forces from their self-styled Republic of Crimea are supported by irregular troops from the self-proclaimed breakaway state of the Donetsk People's Republic.[8][9]

Timeline[edit]

25 February[edit]

In the morning of 25 February, Russian forces advanced from the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) towards Mariupol. They came up against Ukrainian forces in Pavilopil.[10] Although the Ukrainians were victorious, destroying at least 20 Russian tanks in the process,[11] in the evening the Russian Navy began an amphibious assault 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Mariupol, from the Sea of Azov.[12][13]

In Starobilsk, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reportedly destroyed a group of Russian soldiers attempting to cross the river Aidar during a battle.[14]

26 February[edit]

Starobilsk was reported to have been heavily damaged by Russian artillery barrages,[15] while Russian forces continued to bombard Mariupol with artillery throughout the day[16]

27 February[edit]

In the morning of 27 February, it was reported that a Russian tank column quickly advanced on Mariupol from the DPR, but the attack was prevented by Ukrainian forces. Six Russian soldiers were captured.[17]

Luhansk Oblast governor Serhiy Haidai stated that Stanytsia Luhanska and Shchastia were captured by Russian forces who had practically destroyed the settlements during their shelling. Donetsk Oblast governor Pavlo Kyrylenko also accused them of destroying Volnovakha.[18]

1 March[edit]

On 1 March, Ukrainian forces began a counteroffensive toward Horlivka, which has been controlled by the DPR since late 2014.[19][20]

2 March[edit]

A large Russian convoy of more than 60 vehicles entered Starobilsk on 2 March, but was stopped from advancing by protesting locals.[21] The Verkhovna Rada meanwhile stated that Russian shelling on Izyum killed eight people.[22]

Russian forces entered the town of Balakliia during the day.[23]

3 March[edit]

Ukrainian civilians are evacuated from Volnovakha in the Donetsk region

Ukrainian authorities stated on 3 March that 34 civilians were killed in Russian shelling in Mariupol in the past 24 hours.[24] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that Ukrainian forces had advanced along the state border of Sumy Oblast and recaptured territories.[25]

Russian forces entered Svatove during the day but were stopped by protesting locals.[26] The soldiers were later convinced by locals to withdraw from the town.[27] Forces of the Luhansk People's Republic and Russian troops meanwhile captured Novoaidar during the day.[28]

5 March[edit]

An Epicentr K ablaze amid Russian bombing in Mariupol.
See also: Battle of Volnovakha

A ceasefire was declared in Volnovakha to allow civilians to evacuate, but was later scuttled with Ukrainian officials blaming it on Russian shelling continuing during the evacuation process. They added that about 400 civilians were still able to leave the city. Russian President Vladimir Putin however blamed Ukrainian forces for the breakdown of the ceasefire agreement.[29]

6 March[edit]

Russian and LPR units convene in Novoaidar, 6 March

A second attempt to evacuate civilians from Mariupol was prevented as well, with both sides blaming each other.[30] Haidai stated that fighting was taking place on the outskirts of Lysychansk, Sievierodonetsk and Rubizhne, while Popasna and Hirske were being continuously shelled. He added that Ukrainian forces had lost control of Svatove, Starobilsk and Novopskov, but they did not contain any significant presence of Russian troops.[31]

8 March[edit]

Ukrainian officials stated that 10 civilians were killed and eight wounded in shelling on Severodonetsk during the day.[32]

9 March[edit]

A building acting as a maternity ward and children's hospital in Mariupol was bombed by the Russian Air Force around 17:00, killing three civilians and wounding 17.[32]

10 March[edit]

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces were repelling Russian attacks in the areas of Donetsk, Slobozhanske and part of Tavrij.[33]

11 March[edit]

See also: Battle of Volnovakha

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the forces of the DPR had captured Volnovakha.[34] It also claimed that they had advanced 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) and had further tightened the siege of Mariupol. Videos later posted on social media showed Russian forces in many neighborhoods of Volnovakha.[35] Haidai meanwhile stated that Russian forces had occupied 70% of Luhansk Oblast.[36]

12 March[edit]

The Associated Press independently confirmed that Volnovakha had been captured by pro-Russian separatists and much of it had been destroyed in the fighting.[37] On the same day, Ukrainian forces confirmed the death of Colonel Valery Hudz of the Ukrainian 24th Mechanized Brigade whilst fighting on the Luhansk frontline.[4]

Ukrainian officials accused Russia of using white phosphorus munitions on the town of Popasna, located in the Donetsk Oblast, during the night. Further in the south of the oblast, the Sviatohirsk Lavra monastery was bombed around 22:00, wounding 30 people and damaging the monastery.[38][39]

Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of Donetsk Oblast, stated that the settlements of Nikolske, Manhush and Urzuf were occupied by Russian troops. He added that all the cities in the oblast, except for Volnovakha, were under control of Ukrainian forces.[40]

13 March[edit]

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Russian forces had captured the settlements of Nikolske, Blahodatne, Volodymyrivka and Pavlovka in the Donetsk Oblast.[41] It also claimed that they had freed around 300 civilians held hostage by the Aidar Battalion at a monastery in Nikolske.[42]

The Ukrainian military stated that Russian forces had captured the settlements of Staromlynivka, Yevhenivka, Pavlovka and Yegorivka during the day.[43]

14 March[edit]

Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic, stated that they had shot down a Ukrainian Tochka-U fired on the city of Donetsk, but parts of it fell at the city centre, killing multiple civilians. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that 23 civilians were killed and 28 more wounded. The Ukrainian military however denied conducting the attack and stated that it was "unmistakably a Russian rocket or another munition,"[44] and open-source investigators Conflict Intelligence Team supported this.[45]

Ukrainian forces later said that Russian troops of the 336th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade and the 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade had tried to advance in the Donetsk Oblast at 17:00, but were repulsed with up to 100 soldiers killed and six of their vehicles being destroyed.[46]

15 March[edit]

Haidai stated that four civilians were killed due to the shelling by Russian forces hitting a hospital, a care facility for children with visual impairment, and three schools in Rubizhne.[47]

17 March[edit]

During the day, the city of Rubizhne was captured by Russia.[48]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Leader of so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" killed in action near Volnovakha". Ukrayinska Pravda. 5 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Russia confirms senior naval officer killed in Mariupol". BBC News. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "На Луганщині загинув полковник ЗСУ Валерій Гудзь". Hromadske Radio (in Ukrainian). 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  5. ^ Official appeal of Azov commander, the major Denis Prokopenko, to the world community. Національний Корпус. 7 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "Two defenders of Mariupol became Heroes of Ukraine". 19 March 2022.
  7. ^ Schwirtz, Michael; Tavernise, Sabrina (24 February 2022). "In Ukraine, Blasts Before Dawn, Outrage — Then Panic". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Российская военная техника заняла территорию бывшего аэропорта "Бердянск" – горсовет". www.unian.net (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  9. ^ NEXTA [@nexta_tv] (26 February 2022). "The tanks of the occupiers have circled #Berdyansk and are heading towards #Mariupol. t.co/jwsIoORzH0" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "Battle ongoing near Mariupol – mayor". www.ukrinform.net. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  11. ^ Richárd, Jabronka (25 February 2022). "Így áll most a háború Ukrajnában: több nagyvárosban harcok dúlnak, megtámadtak egy orosz repülőteret". Ellenszél (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  12. ^ Sangal, Aditi; Vogt, Adrienne; Woodyatt, Amy; Picheta, Rob; Upright, Ed; Yeung, Jessie; Renton, Adam; Macaya, Melissa; Wagner, Meg (25 February 2022). ""Amphibious assault" underway west of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, senior US defense official says". CNN. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Russian Navy Carries Out Amphibious Assault Near Mariupol". The Maritime Executive. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Війна в Україні: біля Старобільська українські військові розбили колону ворожої техніки | Новини на Gazeta.ua". 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  15. ^ SERVICE, STATE EMERGENCY. "A view shows destroyed buildings after shelling in the town of Starobilsk in the Luhansk region". Denver Gazette. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Russia orders troops to hasten their advance as Mariupol remains under heavy shelling". ABC News. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Russian invasion update: Ukraine repels tank attack, captures six Russians in Mariupol". www.ukrinform.net. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Станиця Луганська, Щастя і Волноваха опинилися на межі гуманітарної катастрофи". RBC Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  19. ^ "First in 7 days of war Ukrainian units go on offensive advancing to Horlivka – Arestovych". Interfax Ukraine. 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Ukrainian Military Begin To Seize Initiative From Russian Invaders – General Staff". ukranews.com. 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  21. ^ Суспільне (2 March 2022). "Російські танки зайшли у Старобільськ, їх зупиняють місцеві жителі". Суспільне | Новини (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Russian troops enter strategic Ukrainian port of Kherson". Reuters. 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  23. ^ Tony Tumanova. "Балаклія: на територію громади зайшли російські війська - міський голова". Ukrainian National News (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Ukraine says 34 civilians killed in Kharkiv region, no water or power in Mariupol city". Reuters. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  25. ^ "На Сумщині передова група ЗСУ вийшли на рубежі по лінії державного кордону". Channel 24 (in Ukrainian). 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  26. ^ "СВАТОВЕ - ЦЕ УКРАЇНА: МІСЦЕВІ ЖИТЕЛІ НА ЛУГАНЩИНІ ПРОГНАЛИ РОСІЙСЬКИХ ОКУПАНТІВ (ВІДЕО)". TSN (in Ukrainian). 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Civiles ucranianos impidieron el avance de tanques rusos". MinutoUno.com (in Spanish). 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Войските на ВСУ изоставят техниката: Руските сили превзеха Новоайдар ВИДЕО". Blitz (in Bulgarian). 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  29. ^ Yaroslav Trofimov; Alan Cullison (6 March 2022). "Ukraine Resumes Evacuation Attempts as Russia Presses Offensive". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Ukraine invasion: Mariupol evacuation halted again as Russia 'regroups forces'". Sky News. 6 March 2022. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  31. ^ Ivan Boyko (6 March 2022). "Бої біля трьох міст: стало відомо, де на Луганщині дуже "гаряче"". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  32. ^ a b Alan Cullison (9 March 2022). "Russian Airstrike Hits Maternity Hospital in Ukrainian City of Mariupol". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  33. ^ "Russian troops lose combat capacity in some areas: Ukraine". Indo-Asian News Service. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022 – via The Assam Tribune.
  34. ^ "Russian-backed separatists capture Ukraine's Volnovakha - RIA". Reuters. 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  35. ^ Tim Lister (11 March 2022). "Evidence indicates Volnovakha in eastern Ukraine has fallen to Russian-backed forces". CNN. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  36. ^ Denys Karlovskyy (11 March 2022). "Russian troops occupied 70% of the territory of Luhansk region - Head of Luhansk Oblast". Ukrayinska Pravda. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  37. ^ "Heavy fighting leaves much of Volnovakha in ruins". Associated Press. Euronews. 12 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  38. ^ "Strike in Donbas Wounds 30, Russia Accused of Chemical Attacks". Agence France-Presse. The Moscow Times. 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  39. ^ Alex Stambaugh; Lizzy Yee (13 March 2022). "Russian airstrike damages historic Ukrainian monastery". CNN. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  40. ^ Lilia Olenuk (12 March 2012). "Ворог через фейки провокує паніку". 0342.ua. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  41. ^ "Минобороны сообщило об освобождении заложников в монастыре под Мариуполем". RBC Group (in Russian). 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  42. ^ Aaron Reich (14 March 2022). "Ukraine accuses Russia of using phosphorus bombs - ombudsman". Reuters, The Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  43. ^ "Ворог окупував Старомлинівку, Євгенівку, Павлівку та Єгорівку, – Генштаб". Channel 24 (in Ukrainian). 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  44. ^ "Russia says 23 dead in missile attack on Donetsk". Al Jazeera. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  45. ^ Karlovsky, Denys (15 March 2022). "The missile strike on the centre of Donetsk was carried out from the territory of the Russian Federation - Conflict Intelligence Team". Ukrayinska Pravda. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  46. ^ Katerina Tischenko (14 March 2022). "На Донецькому напрямку ЗСУ відбили наступ: знищено до сотні окупантів". Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  47. ^ Iryna Balachuk (15 March 2022). "Russia's shelling of hospital, residential care facility, and 3 schools in Rubizhne: 4 killed". Ukrayinska Pravda. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  48. ^ Aldin 🇧🇦 [@aldin_ww] (17 March 2022). "Visual confirmation of Rubizhne now under full control of Russian Forces and Luhansk separatists" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 March 2022 – via Twitter.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eastern_Ukraine_offensive&oldid=1078569338"