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Battle of Mykolaiv

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Battle of Mykolaiv
Part of the Southern Ukraine offensive and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.svg
Date26 February 2022 – present (3 weeks and 6 days)
Location
Mykolaiv, Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Unknown

Dmitry Marchenko[1]
Oleksandr Vinogradov[1]
Sviatoslav Stetsenko[1]
Vitaliy Kim[1][2]

Ruslan Khoda[3]
Yaroslav Chepurnoi[4]
Units involved

 Russian Armed Forces

 Ukrainian Armed Forces

 Ukrainian Navy

Irregular civilian volunteers (militia)[1]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
Frigate Hetman Sahaidachny scuttled[5]

132+ Ukrainians killed[3] and 250 wounded overall[6]

~250,000 civilians evacuated[7]

The Battle of Mykolaiv is an ongoing military engagement which started on the night of 26 February 2022, as part of the Southern Ukraine offensive during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Mykolaiv is a strategically important shipbuilding city on the Black Sea and on 4 March was "seen as the next key stepping stone for Russian forces on the road to Odessa."[8] The city contains the only permanent bridge across the Southern Bug River.[9]

Battle

Ukrainian firefighters put out a fire in Mykolaiv caused by Russian attacks.
Destroyed residential buildings in Mykolaiv.

During the afternoon hours of 26 February 2022, 12 Russian tanks managed to break through in Kakhovka on the Dnieper and began heading towards Mykolaiv.[10] Vitaly Kim, the governor of Mykolaiv Oblast, stated that the city had 5 hours to prepare for encirclement and urged citizens to prepare barricades and volunteer to defend the city.[11][12] Artillery and other arms had also been prepared.[13]

By around 18:52, tanks were in the outskirts of the city and the mayor ordered citizens to stay at home and as far away from windows as possible.[14] Shortly after, troops entered the city and a battle on the Southern Bug erupted around ten minutes later.[15] According to some reports, tanks "passed through the city".[16] Russian forces had also taken over the Mykolaiv Zoo.[17]

After roughly three hours of fighting, Russian forces were driven away by Ukrainian forces, and while some Russian tanks reportedly bypassed the city, fighting continued.[18] Extensive fighting was recorded in Korabel'nyy Raion [uk], on 6th Slobidska Street, and on Central Avenue.[19]

By the early morning of 27 February, Ukrainian officials claimed that Russian forces were fully driven away from the city, with Kim posting on Telegram, "Mykolaiv is ours! Glory to Ukraine!" (Миколаїв наш! Слава Україні[!]).[20] Some Russian soldiers were captured. The city was extensively damaged.[21][22][23]

On 28 February, Russian troops advanced from Kherson towards Mykolaiv, reaching the city's outskirts and launching an assault at 11:00 a.m. local time.[24][25]

On 1 March, according to Ukrainian officials, a Russian column near the city of Bashtanka, just north of Mykolaiv, was defeated by Ukrainian forces.[26][27]

On 2 March, another Russian column was defeated at the city of Voznesensk, about 80 km north of Mykolaiv, by Ukrainian regular army troops, members of the Territorial Defense force, and local volunteers.[28]

The Ukrainian Navy scuttled their only frigate and the flagship of the Ukrainian Navy, Hetman Sahaidachny, in the port of Mykolaiv on or before 3 March. On that day, a photo was published showing the frigate partially sunk in port.[29][5]

On 4 March, the Ukrainian Defence Minister confirmed that Hetman Sahaidachny had been scuttled to prevent its capture by the Russian forces.[30][31] Kim later announced that Russian troops were driven out of the city but were counterattacking. Ukrainian soldiers recaptured Kulbakino Air Base.[32] Mayor Oleksandr Senkevich said that Russian troops were attacking the city from the north, east and south. Ukrainian troops held a single swing bridge spanning the Southern Bug, the easiest route for Russian forces to reach the port of Odessa.[33] Russian forces were later forced to retreat back beyond the city limits.[34]

On 7 March, ten Ukrainian soldiers were killed and dozens of others were wounded in a Russian airstrike on the barracks of the 79th Air Assault Brigade at 05:15.[35][3] Kim later stated that Ukrainian forces had recaptured Mykolaiv International Airport and civilians could now leave the city.[36] At 05:00 Russian troops began shelling the city and a Kalibr cruise missile hit a military barracks, killing eight soldiers and wounding 19, while another eight were missing. Heavy clashes took place to the east of the city and a tank battle broke out at the airport. The shelling stopped around the evening, with Ukrainian forces declaring they had repelled the Russian assault.[34]

Kim claimed on 11 March that Ukrainian forces had pushed Russian troops back to the east by 15 kilometres (9.3 mi)–20 kilometres (12 mi) and had also surrounded some units who were negotiating for a surrender. He said that the Russian force that attacked the city was relatively weak, but warned that a stronger one could easily capture the city. The head doctor of a local hospital, Alexander Dimyanov, said that 250 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians had been wounded during the battle, of which 12 died.[6] Olga Dierugina, the director of the forensic institute of Mykolaiv, told Agence France-Presse that their morgue had recived 120 bodies during the battle, including 80 soldiers and 30 civilians. Some of the dead also included Russian soldiers.[37]

A cancer hospital and an eye clinic were bombed on 12 March. On 13 March, Kim stated that a gas turbine factory had been bombed by the Russians. He later said that nine people had been killed in the attack.[38] Russian forces still controlled villages 20 kilometres (12 mi) away, with only the Southern Bug river keeping the city from being encircled. Senkevich told The Guardian that the civilians were being evacuated through the road leading to Odessa, and about 250,000 had been evacuated.[7]

Civilians stacked various parts of the city streets with tires during the battle, in order to burn them using molotov cocktails and attempt to slow down Russian troops in case they entered the city while Ukrainian troops targeted their tanks.[39][40] The governor of Mykolaiv Oblast, Vitaliy Kim, meanwhile organized the defenses and motivated people through videos he posted on social media. Sgt. Ruslan Khoda, who commanded the Ukrainian forces defending the airport, stated that Russian troops seemed to be mounting probing attacks to test vulnerabilities in their defenses and they were often preceded by surveillance drones. Maj. Gen. Dmitry Marchenko, who was leading the city's defense, stated that Ukrainian forces were trying to break the morale of Russian troops by repeatedly shelling them.[3]

According to a report by The New York Times on 16 March, 132 bodies were housed at the city's morgue.[3]

Ukranian military base missile attack

On 18 March, two Russian Kalibr missiles, fired from nearby Kherson, struck a Ukrainian army barracks of the 36th Marine Naval Infantry Brigade (headquartered in Mykolaiv), used to train local soldiers, located in the northern suburbs of Mykolaiv.[4] The attack occurred during the night, while the soldiers were asleep in their bunks. Not enough time was available to sound the alarm, as the missiles were fired from too close in the vicinity of Kherson.[41]

Initially, 45 Ukrainian soldiers were reported killed, with the death toll expected to rise.[42][43] The Belgian Newspaper HLN reported that at least 80 Ukrainian soldiers were reported killed by the city morgue.[44] It is presumed nearly all 200 soldiers were killed, as only one survivor was pulled from the rubble the next day and temperatures reached below 6 °C (43 °F) during the night.[41]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Schwirtz, Michael (6 March 2022). "Proud Band of Ukrainian Troops Holds Russian Assault at Bay — for Now". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "As result of morning shelling of Mykolaiv, eight servicemen killed, eight missing – local authorities". interfax-Ukraine. 7 March 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e Michael Schwirtz (16 March 2022). "'I'm Not Scared of Anything': Death and Defiance in a Besieged Ukrainian City". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Russian Rocket Attack Turns Ukrainian Marine Base to Rubble, Killing Dozens". MSN. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b "The Ukrainian Navy's Flagship Appears To Have Been Scuttled". The Drive. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b Andrew Harding (12 March 2022). "Battle for Mykolaiv: 'We are winning this fight, but not this war'". BBC. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b Nataliya Gumenyuk (14 March 2022). "In Mykolaiv, a city awaiting a siege, it's clear that all Ukrainians are now people of war". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. ^ Walker, Shaun. "Russian forces push to take key port of Odesa as fighting near Kyiv rages". No. 4 March 2022. The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 4". Institute for the Study of War. 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Миколаїв готується до кругової оборони: до міста прориваються 12 танків". 24tv (in Ukrainian). 24-Канал. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  11. ^ Mazurenko, Alona (26 February 2022). "Миколаїв готується до кругової оборони: пруть ворожі танки". 24tv (in Ukrainian). 24-Канал. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Russian invasion update: Mykolaiv preparing for all-round defense, tanks break through from Kakhovka". Ukrinform. Ukrinform. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  13. ^ Kornilov, Mikhailo (26 February 2022). "Миколаїв готується до кругової оборони". Telegraf (in Ukrainian). Telegraf. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Миколаїв готується до оборони: розвели міст через річку, а людей просять не виходити". TSN (in Ukrainian). Televiziyna Sluzhba Novyn. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  15. ^ Kniazhik, Oksana (26 February 2022). "Бои за Николаев: в городе слышны выстрелы, объявлен сбор медиков". 24tv (in Ukrainian). 24-Канал. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  16. ^ Poliakovska, Tanya (26 February 2022). "Танки пройшли через Миколаїв зі стріляниною – ОДА". Unian (in Ukrainian). Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  17. ^ "У передмісті Миколаєва йде танковий бій". Niknews (in Ukrainian). 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  18. ^ Kushnerik, Tetyana (26 February 2022). "У Миколаєві тероборона дала бій російським танкам". Glavkom (in Ukrainian). ГЛАВКОМ. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  19. ^ "В Николаев заходили российские танки: что известно". VN (in Ukrainian). Vechernyy Nikolaev [uk]. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Миколаїв залишається під контролем України". TSN (in Ukrainian). Televiziyna Sluzhba Novyn. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  21. ^ @GoncharenkoUa (27 February 2022). "Mykolaiv's center after the night battle. Welcome to hell" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Инсайдер Украина Новости Война". Telegram (via Twitter link) (in Ukrainian). Insider Ukraine. 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  23. ^ @MilitaryLandnet (26 February 2022). "After fierce fighting, Ukrainian troops repulses the enemy attack on #Mykolaiv" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "Several killed as Russian rockets pound Ukraine's Kharkiv". Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  25. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, FEBRUARY 28, 2022". Institute for the Study of War. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  26. ^ Mazurenko, Alona (2 March 2022). "У Миколаєві висадився ворожий десант. Людей просять покинути вулиці". Українська Правда (in Ukrainian). Ukrayinska Pravda. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Міський голова Миколаєва розповів про ситуацію в місті". TSN (in Ukrainian). Televiziyna Sluzhba Novyn. 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  28. ^ Trofimov, Yaroslav (16 March 2022). "A Ukrainian Town Deals Russia One of the War's Most Decisive Routs". VOZNESENSK, Ukraine: Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  29. ^ Evans, Michael. "Ukraine scuttles its flagship frigate as the Russians close in". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Hetman Sahaidachny frigate, being under repair, flooded not to get to enemy – Reznikov". Interfax Ukraine. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  31. ^ Evans, Michael (4 March 2022). "Ukraine scuttles its flagship frigate as Russians close in". The Times. The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  32. ^ "Ukrainian defenders repelled attack on Mykolaiv city, fighting continues on outskirts". Ukrinform. 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  33. ^ Schwirtz, Michael (4 March 2022). "In a surrounded Ukrainian city, residents vow to fight to the end". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  34. ^ a b Michael Schwirtz (7 March 2022). "Ukrainian forces have repelled another Russian assault on Mykolaiv, officials say". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  35. ^ Stefanie Glinski (14 March 2022). "Russia's Road to Odesa Runs Through Mykolaiv". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  36. ^ "Ukrainian forces have retaken Mykolayiv regional airport, says governor". Reuters. 7 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  37. ^ "In a Mykolaiv morgue, corpses pile up in the snow". Agence France-Presse. Deccan Herald. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  38. ^ "Nine Killed by Bombing in Southern City of Mykolaiv: Regional Governor". Agence France-Presse. The Moscow Times. 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  39. ^ Nick Martin (15 March 2022). "Ukraine war: Buses hurtle along Mykolaiv's deserted streets on the only safe route out of the city". Sky News. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  40. ^ Carole Landry (15 March 2022). "Scenes from the Resistance". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  41. ^ a b "Ukraine conflict: Scores feared dead after Russia attack on Mykolaiv barracks". BBC News. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  42. ^ "Russians hit army barracks in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, leaving dozens dead: reports". Fox News. 19 March 2022.
  43. ^ "Ukraine war latest: Gun battles as Russian troops reach Mariupol city centre, says mayor". BBC News. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  44. ^ "Onze oorlogsjournalist Robin Ramaekers na bombardement in Mykolaiv: "Een van de zwaarste klappen voor het Oekraïense leger tot nu toe"". HLN Nieuws. 18 March 2022.
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