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Battle of Mariupol (2014)

October 28, 2023

For other uses, see Battle of Mariupol.

Battle of Mariupol
Part of the war in Donbas

Soldiers in Mariupol
Date6 May – 14 June 2014
(1 month, 1 week and 1 day)
Location
Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Result

Government victory[1]

Belligerents
 Ukraine  Donetsk People's Republic
Commanders and leaders
Arsen Avakov
Serhiy Demydenko †
Valery Androshchuk (POW)		 Denis Kuzmenko (POW)
Units involved

Armed Forces of Ukraine

Ministry of Internal Affairs

Donbas People's Militia

Defected policemen[4][5]
Strength
400 60
Casualties and losses
20 killed
49 wounded[6][7][8][9]
1 captured[10]
3 APCs destroyed[11][12]		 20–26 killed[7][13][14]
15–34 captured[3][15][16]
1 BRDM-2 destroyed[8][17]

During the unrest in Ukraine in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, the city of Mariupol, in Donetsk Oblast, saw skirmishes break out between Ukrainian government forces, local police, and separatist militants affiliated with the Donetsk People's Republic. Government forces withdrew from Mariupol on 9 May 2014 after heavy fighting left the city's police headquarters gutted by fire. These forces maintained checkpoints outside the city. Intervention by Metinvest steelworkers on 15 May 2014 led to the removal of barricades from the city centre, and the resumption of patrols by local police. Separatists continued to operate a headquarters in another part of the city until their positions were overrun in a government offensive on 13 June 2014.

Background edit

 
Mariupol City Hall, damaged by a fire during clashes in May 2014.
Main articles: War in Donbas (2014–2022) and 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

Mariupol is the second-largest city in Donetsk Oblast, and had experienced sporadic unrest since March 2014. Pro-Russian and anti-government groups first occupied the city council building on 18 March 2014.[18] The first violent incident had occurred during the night on 16 April 2014, when about 300 pro-Russian and anti-government protesters attacked a Ukrainian military unit in Mariupol, throwing petrol bombs.[19] Internal Affairs minister Arsen Avakov said that troops were forced to open fire, resulting in the killing of three of the attackers.[19]

Ukrainian government forces claimed they "liberated" the Mariupol city council on 24 April 2014, though this was heavily disputed by anti-government demonstrators, and a BBC report said that there was "no sign" of the army.[20][21] The building changed hands multiple times thereafter, but was captured by the army on 8 May.[22][23]

Events edit

A violent clash involving armoured personnel carriers (APC) took place at the Mariupol police headquarters on Victory Day, 9 May 2014. The Ukrainian government said it sent in the APCs in response to an attempt by militant separatists to storm the building.[10] According to the Internal Affairs Ministry, the assault on the station involved 60 separatists armed with automatic weapons.[10] Some local policemen reportedly helped the militants during the takeover and later clashed with Internal Troops who fired on the building with heavy machine guns mounted on the APCs.[4][24]

 
The police headquarters in Mariupol, destroyed in the fighting of May 2014.

The Ukrainian government said its contingent included police, as well as an Omega unit of the National Guard.[10] Pro-Russian protesters attempted to stop the advance, but were unsuccessful.[25] Ukrainian security forces attacked the police headquarters in an attempt to recapture it from militants, and during the assault the building caught fire. According to Internal Affairs minister Arsen Avakov, a separatist sniper fired at Ukrainian soldiers and civilians from the upper floors of a hospital.[6] Avakov said that the counterattack resulted in the deaths of twenty separatists, and the capture of four, while the rest dispersed.[10][26] He referred to the separatist militants as "terrorists", and warned that "annihilation" would be Ukraine's answer to future acts of terrorism.[26]

Avakov's account of what happened was contested by some Mariupol residents, who spoke to reporters from The New York Times, the BBC, and The Independent shortly after the incident.[5][25][26] The residents (many of whom showed their Ukrainian passports to prove they were not from Russia[26]) said that the government had attacked local police who were sympathetic to protesters.[5][25][26] One version of events, put forward by a group of residents cited by The New York Times, was that the clash was sparked by Mariupol police rebelling against a new police chief sent by the interim government in Kyiv.[5] The BBC report included a video showing pro-Russian activists trying unsuccessfully to stop armoured vehicles from moving into the city.[25]

 
Burnt-out office of PrivatBank in Mariupol. The building was set on fire on 4 May 2014.

After the fighting the Ukrainian forces withdrew from the city, leaving it fully under control of pro-Russian protesters. The military retained control over checkpoints surrounding the city.[27] The Ukrainian government said that its forces withdrew "to avoid further aggravation".[28] The troops moving out of the city shot at unarmed civilians, according to The Guardian.[29][30][31] Anna Neistat from Human Rights Watch stated "my preliminary findings suggest that Ukrainian units might indeed have used excessive force near the drama theater, which resulted in deaths and injuries of some unarmed people" and urged a full, thorough investigation.[32]

Video of a captured APC in Mariupol.

One armoured personnel carrier was captured by pro-Russian protesters. After the clashes, the protesters built barricades on roads in the city centre.[4][13] Overnight, the city administration building was set ablaze[33] and three gun shops were looted.[34] The next day, insurgents set alight the captured armoured vehicle, causing the ammunition inside to explode.[11] Individuals also threw petrol bombs at the city prosecutor's office and a military building, setting them on fire.[35] On 11 May 2014, eight polling places were set up in Mariupol for the DPR's referendum on self-rule. The low number of polling places caused queues hundreds of metres long.[36]

Intervention of Metinvest steelworkers edit

Metinvest in conjunction with owners Rinat Akhmetov and Vadim Novinsky announced on 11 May 2014 that the company would be forming citywide militia groups from local steelworkers to work with police. The squads were intended to "protect civilians from looters and criminals operating in the city". Akhmetov urged the Ukrainian government to refrain from sending its forces to the city and to start negotiations with the insurgents.[36][37][38]

 
Civilians gather next to a deployment of soldiers

An agreement initiated by Metinvest was signed on 15 May by steel plant directors, police and community leaders, and a representative of the Donetsk People's Republic separatists.[39][40] Steelworkers and security guards from Metinvest, along with local police, began joint patrols in the city of Mariupol.[41][42] Associated Press reported that these groups forced the insurgents out of the buildings that they had been occupying.[41] Although a DPR representative was party to the deal which led to this vacation of buildings by the insurgents,[39][40] a local commander of those insurgents who had been occupying the building said that "someone is trying to sow discord among us, someone has signed something, but we will continue our fight", and that "everyone ran away".[41] Steelworkers could be seen removing barricades from the city centre, and also cleaning up the burnt city administration building.[42] By the morning of 16 May 2014, Associated Press journalists could find no trace of the insurgents in Mariupol city centre.[41] On 16 May, however, it seemed that separatists were not banished from the city: reporters from The Washington Post said that about a hundred pro-Russian activists gathered on the steps of the city administration building, and that the separatist flag continued to fly over it.[43] Radio Free Europe reported on 17 May that separatist militants (unarmed, but some wearing balaclavas) were patrolling Mariupol alongside police.[44] On 19 May 2014, CNN reporters found DPR supporters, including armed militia, running their headquarters in a suburb of Mariupol.[45] The leader of the group, Denis Kuzmenko, told the reporters he welcomed the role of the steelworkers in the city.[45]

Government recapture of Mariupol edit

On the morning of 13 June 2014, heavy fighting resumed as part of military operations in Mariupol, in which the Azov and Dnipro-1 Battalions retook the city and key buildings occupied by insurgents, killing five militants and destroying an insurgent BRDM-2 armoured vehicle.[17][46][47] Two soldiers were also killed[7] and 4–11 separatists were captured.[15][16] A military armoured personnel carrier was destroyed during the fighting.[12] Internal Affairs minister Avakov said "All key terrorist strongholds are being brought under control".[48]

As a result of the six-hour battle, Ukrainian forces hoisted the national flag over the insurgent headquarters in the city and said they had regained control of a 121-kilometre (75 mi) stretch of the border with Russia.[48][49] Immediately following the operation, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko instructed the chief of the Donetsk regional state administration Serhiy Taruta to temporarily move the regional capital to Mariupol.[48] A minor incident occurred the next morning, when a convoy of border guardsmen was attacked by insurgents whilst passing Mariupol, leaving five guardsmen dead and seven wounded.[9]

OSCE monitors visited Mariupol to assess the situation in the city on 18 August.[50] They reported that the city was calm and secure. They spoke to a local activist who told them that "the city had become stable" in the months after the recapture of the city by government forces. According to UNHCR, there were at least 4,000 refugees from the ongoing war in the Donbas region at the time that the monitors visited the city. Unofficial statistics cited by the OSCE gave the number of refugees in Mariupol as 20,000.[50]

Casualties edit

There were conflicting reports regarding the number and identity of the dead with regard to the 9 May 2014 incident. Internal Affairs minister Arsen Avakov stated that the operation resulted in the death of one policeman, and about twenty people described as "terrorists".[13] Four militants were captured and five policemen were wounded.[3] The Daily Telegraph reported that some locals thought that most of the between five and twenty people killed were innocent civilians.[51] City traffic police chief Viktor Sayenko was killed in the fighting on 9 May.[6][52][53] A Euronews report said Mariupol residents, including the priest who conducted Sayenko's funeral, were unsure how he was killed, or who was responsible.[52] Chief of Police Valery Andruschuk was captured by pro-Russian forces. He was released on 12 May, and was found in serious condition with a brain injury, brain contusion, and broken ribs.[54] It was confirmed later that two pro-government territorial defence battalion paramilitaries were killed as well. One of them was the deputy commander of the Dnipro Battalion, Serhiy Demydenko, who was killed by sniper fire.[6] Citing eyewitnesses, Mariupol internet publication 0629 reported that "terrorists took Demidenko's dead body and cut his ears off and gouged his eyes."[10] Eight soldiers were also wounded in the fighting.[6]

The Mariupol city administration declared 10 May 2014 as a day of mourning in honour of those killed in the 9 May incident.[55] Residents placed flowers in front of the gutted police station.[56] A large public funeral was held in Kyiv on 12 May for an Azov Battalion member who was killed in the fighting.[2]

A further violent death was reported on 25 May, when the Ukrainian government said its special police had killed a bodyguard of Mariupol DPR leader Denis Kuzmenko, while arresting Kuzmenko himself.[14] Five separatists and two soldiers were killed during the takeover of the city by the military on 13 June 2014.[7] Five border guards were killed and seven wounded in an ambush attack on a military convoy on 14 June 2014.[9]

A report by Human Rights Watch said that the Ukrainian military may have used excessive force during the battle of Mariupol.[57]

In January 2015, Kyiv Post cited a Bellingcat citizen's investigation into the May 2014 events in Mariupol. It asserted that Ukrainian soldiers had made a decided effort to avoid firing directly at the protesters, whilst taking fire and suffering casualties themselves. According to the investigation, of the thirteen people listed killed, six were Ukrainian law enforcement officers, soldiers, or members of the Azov Battalion.[24]

Legacy edit

On 13 June 2015, a monument to the defenders of the Military Unit No. 3057 was unveiled in the city on the first anniversary of the battle.[58] A documentary film on the Public TV of Azov called Year of Freedom. Mariupol After DNR was released in 2015.[59] Mariupol Liberation Day from Russian Occupation (Ukrainian: День звільнення Маріуполя від проросійських терористів) was celebrated annually on 13 June, being an official holiday in the city. It was first celebrated at the state level in 2016 (the second anniversary). On this day, the Azov Regiment held an organized military parade at 10:00 am. The Russian victory in the 2022 Siege of Mariupol effectively ended the celebration of Mariupol Liberation Day.

5th anniversary edit

On Liberation Day 2019, the traditional military parade was held, during which soldiers of the Azov Regiment, Military Unit 3057, representatives of the National Police and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine marched.[60][61] President Volodymyr Zelensky paid an official visit to the city, attending joint military exercises and the opening of a demining center.[62] Gala concerts were also held throughout the city.[63][64]

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ a b "Світ у відео: в Києві прощалися з бійцем спецпідрозділу "Азов", який загинув у Маріуполі" [The world in video: in Kiev said goodbye to the soldier of special forces "Azov" who was lost in Mariupol]. Radiosvoboda.org. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Walker, Shaun and Grytsenko, Oksana (9 May 2014) . The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Blair, David (9 May 2014) Ukraine crisis: 'over 20 killed' in Mariupol as Putin marks victory in Crimea. The Daily Telegraph.
  5. ^ a b c d "Ukraine Forces Attack Militant-Held Police Station". The New York Times. 10 May 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Аваков: У Маріуполі снайпер subject з даху лікарні по людях" [Avakov: In Mariupol, a sniper fired at people from the roof of the hospital]. Ukrayinska Pravda. 9 May 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d Al Jazeera and agencies. "Ukrainian troops regain port city of Mariupol". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  8. ^ a b . The Washington Post. Associated Press. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014.
  9. ^ a b c "В Мариуполе на пост-мосту расстреляли колонну пограничников. Есть погибшие (ФОТО+ВИДЕО)" [Mariupol A column of border guards was shot dead in a post-bridge in Mariupol. There are dead (PHOTOS + VIDEO)]. 0629.com.ua - Сайт города Мариуполя.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Avakov says 21 dead in Mariupol after clashes between police and separatists on Victory Day". Kyiv Post. 9 May 2014.
  11. ^ a b "West warns Russia ahead of 'illegal' east Ukraine referendums". The Australian. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  12. ^ a b . the Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  13. ^ a b c . Associated Press via Newsinfo.inquirer.net. 10 May 2014
  14. ^ a b Birnbaum, Michael (25 May 2014) In Ukrainian election, chocolate tycoon Poroshenko claims victory The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  15. ^ a b . Kyiv Post. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  16. ^ a b AFP (14 June 2014). "US accuses Russia of sending rocket launchers to Ukraine rebels". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  17. ^ a b Цензор.НЕТ. "Battalion "Azov" and "Dnepr-1" killed five terrorists, took a couple of buildings and knocked BRDM". Цензор.НЕТ. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
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  22. ^ Rainsford, Sarah (7 May 2014) Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russians seize back Mariupol city hall. BBC
  23. ^ Galpin, Richart (8 May 2014) Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russia rebel vote to go ahead. BBC.
  24. ^ a b Tucker, Maxim (28 January 2015). "Ukrainian troops were shot at during May 9 protests in Mariupol, report finds". KyivPost. from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  25. ^ a b c d Ukraine: 'Blood bath' in Mariupol. BBC. 9 May 2014.
  26. ^ a b c d e Ukraine crisis: Bloody assault in Mariupol dashes hopes of avoiding civil war. Independent.co.uk (9 May 2014). Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  27. ^ "Міноборони: блокпости навколо Маріуполя під контролем ЗСУ, 8 військових поранені | Українська правда" [Ministry of Defense: checkpoints around Mariupol under the control of the Armed Forces, 8 servicemen wounded & # 124; Ukrainian Truth (Pravda)]. Ukrayinska Pravda. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  28. ^ (12 May 2014) Kyiv Post
  29. ^ Shaun Walker (10 May 2014). "East Ukraine goes to the polls for independence referendum | The Observer". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  30. ^ "Ukraine rebels plan referendum on Sunday". The Hindu. 11 May 2014.
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  32. ^ Anna Neistat (10 May 2014). . Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  33. ^ "У Маріуполі горить міськрада | Українська правда" [The City Council is burning in Mariupol & # 124; Ukrainian Pravda]. Ukrayinska Pravda. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  34. ^ "У Маріуполі сепаратисти полюють на зброю | Українська правда" [In Mariupol, separatists are "hunting" for weapons & # 124; Ukrainian Pravda]. Ukrayinska Pravda. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  35. ^ "Здание городской прокуратуры и воинская часть горят в… - Интерфакс" [The building of the city prosecutor's office and the military unit are on fire in… - Interfax]. Interfax.ru. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  36. ^ a b Robinson, Matt. . Reuters. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  37. ^ ЛIГАБiзнесIнформИнформационное агентство (11 May 2014). "Заводы Ахметова создают дружины для защиты Мариуполя от мародеров" [Akhmetov's factories are creating squads to protect Mariupol from looters]. News.liga.net. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  38. ^ (11 May 2014) В МАРИУПОЛЕ НАЧАЛОСЬ ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ НАРОДНЫХ ДРУЖИН ИЗ ЧИСЛА МЕТАЛЛУРГОВ (FORMATION OF PEOPLE'S TEAMS FROM METALLURGISTS BEGINS IN MARIUPOL) Metinvestholding.com. Retrieved 26 May 2014
  39. ^ a b [Mariupol metallurgists, city authorities, Mariupol public and DNR leader sign Memorandum of Order and Security]. 6 November 2005. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  40. ^ a b Karmanau, Uras, Associated Press (16 May 2014) Steelworkers Take Back East Ukraine City in Huge Power Shift. Business Insider. Retrieved 25 May 2014
  41. ^ a b c d "Pro-Russian insurgents retreat from buildings in Mariupol". CBC News. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  42. ^ a b "Latest from the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine - based on information received until 18:00 hrs, 14 May" (Press release). Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  43. ^ Kunkle, Frederick (16 May 2014) Steelworkers help keep uneasy calm in eastern Ukraine The Washington Post
  44. ^ Charles Recknagel (17 May 2014) Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty
  45. ^ a b Greene, Richard Allen (19 May 2014) Who's in charge here? In one eastern Ukrainian city, answer isn't clear. CNN. Retrieved 25 May 2014
  46. ^ "Mariupol 'militia' loses five men in combat". Kyiv Post. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  47. ^ Ukraine crisis: Kiev forces win back Mariupol, BBC News (13 June 2014)
  48. ^ a b c Miller, Christopher (18 November 2011). "Ukrainian Forces Seize Crucial Port City From Pro-Russia Separatists". Mashable. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  49. ^ "Ukraine Troops Storm Rebel-Held Buildings". Sky news. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  50. ^ a b "Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 18 August 2014" (Press release). Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  51. ^ Blair, David. "Seven Ukrainian soldiers killed in ambush". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  52. ^ a b (11 May 2014) Euronews. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  53. ^ . Kyiv Post. 10 May 2014. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  54. ^ "Начальника міліції Маріуполя звільнили - з травмами, але живий | Українська правда" [Mariupol police chief fired - with injuries but alive & # 124; Ukrainian Pravda]. Ukrayinska Pravda. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  55. ^ "Mariupol holds day of mourning on May 10 – City Council". Interfax-Ukraine. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  56. ^ Blair, David (10 May 2014) Ukraine: Security forces abandon Mariupol ahead of referendum The Daily Telegraph.
  57. ^ Neistat, Anna (10 May 2014). "Dispatches: Truth a Casualty in Ukraine Conflict". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  58. ^ "В Мариуполе открыли памятник героям, защитившим воинскую часть №3057 весной 2014-го (ФОТО)" [Monument to heroes who defended military unit №3057 unveiled in Mariupol in spring 2014 (PHOTOS)]. 0629.com.ua - Сайт города Мариуполя.
  59. ^ Рік визволення. Маріуполь після ДНР (Year of liberation. Mariupol after the DNR) 15 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine / The year of Freedom. Mariupol after DNR [English subs] — документальний фільм
  60. ^ [Military parade, tournament and concert: how Mariupol will celebrate the 5th anniversary of liberation]. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  61. ^ "Годовщина освобождения Мариуполя: как 5 лет назад силы АТО прогнали врага из города" [Anniversary of the liberation of Mariupol: how 5 years ago the anti-terrorist operation forces drove the enemy out of the city].
  62. ^ "Zelenskiy Visits Mariupol As City Celebrates Fifth Anniversary Of 'Liberation'". www.rferl.org.
  63. ^ "Мариуполь отметит 5-летие освобождения военным парадом и концертом ТНМК и Tayanna" [Mariupol will mark the 5th anniversary of the liberation with a military parade and a concert by TNMK and Tayanna].
  64. ^ "В Мариуполе начался праздничный уикенд, посвященный 5-летию освобождения города от оккупантов" [A festive weekend dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the liberation of the city from the occupiers has started in Mariupol]. YouTube.

October 28, 2023
battle, mariupol, 2014, other, uses, battle, mariupol, battle, mariupolpart, donbassoldiers, mariupoldate6, june, 2014, month, week, locationmariupol, donetsk, oblast, ukraineresultgovernment, victory, ukrainian, forces, regain, complete, control, mariupol, ma. For other uses see Battle of Mariupol Battle of MariupolPart of the war in DonbasSoldiers in MariupolDate6 May 14 June 2014 1 month 1 week and 1 day LocationMariupol Donetsk Oblast UkraineResultGovernment victory 1 Ukrainian forces regain complete control of Mariupol Mariupol becomes the provisional capital of Donetsk OblastBelligerents Ukraine Donetsk People s RepublicCommanders and leadersArsen Avakov Serhiy Demydenko Valery Androshchuk POW Denis Kuzmenko POW Units involvedArmed Forces of Ukraine Ukrainian Ground Forces 72nd Guards Mechanized BrigadeMinistry of Internal Affairs National Guard of Ukraine Azov Battalion 2 Dnipro Battalion Militsiya Police 3 Donbas People s Militia Sparta Battalion Defected policemen 4 5 Strength40060Casualties and losses20 killed49 wounded 6 7 8 9 1 captured 10 3 APCs destroyed 11 12 20 26 killed 7 13 14 15 34 captured 3 15 16 1 BRDM 2 destroyed 8 17 During the unrest in Ukraine in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution the city of Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast saw skirmishes break out between Ukrainian government forces local police and separatist militants affiliated with the Donetsk People s Republic Government forces withdrew from Mariupol on 9 May 2014 after heavy fighting left the city s police headquarters gutted by fire These forces maintained checkpoints outside the city Intervention by Metinvest steelworkers on 15 May 2014 led to the removal of barricades from the city centre and the resumption of patrols by local police Separatists continued to operate a headquarters in another part of the city until their positions were overrun in a government offensive on 13 June 2014 Contents 1 Background 2 Events 2 1 Intervention of Metinvest steelworkers 2 2 Government recapture of Mariupol 3 Casualties 4 Legacy 4 1 5th anniversary 5 See also 6 ReferencesBackground edit nbsp Mariupol City Hall damaged by a fire during clashes in May 2014 Main articles War in Donbas 2014 2022 and 2014 pro Russian unrest in Ukraine Mariupol is the second largest city in Donetsk Oblast and had experienced sporadic unrest since March 2014 Pro Russian and anti government groups first occupied the city council building on 18 March 2014 18 The first violent incident had occurred during the night on 16 April 2014 when about 300 pro Russian and anti government protesters attacked a Ukrainian military unit in Mariupol throwing petrol bombs 19 Internal Affairs minister Arsen Avakov said that troops were forced to open fire resulting in the killing of three of the attackers 19 Ukrainian government forces claimed they liberated the Mariupol city council on 24 April 2014 though this was heavily disputed by anti government demonstrators and a BBC report said that there was no sign of the army 20 21 The building changed hands multiple times thereafter but was captured by the army on 8 May 22 23 Events editA violent clash involving armoured personnel carriers APC took place at the Mariupol police headquarters on Victory Day 9 May 2014 The Ukrainian government said it sent in the APCs in response to an attempt by militant separatists to storm the building 10 According to the Internal Affairs Ministry the assault on the station involved 60 separatists armed with automatic weapons 10 Some local policemen reportedly helped the militants during the takeover and later clashed with Internal Troops who fired on the building with heavy machine guns mounted on the APCs 4 24 nbsp The police headquarters in Mariupol destroyed in the fighting of May 2014 The Ukrainian government said its contingent included police as well as an Omega unit of the National Guard 10 Pro Russian protesters attempted to stop the advance but were unsuccessful 25 Ukrainian security forces attacked the police headquarters in an attempt to recapture it from militants and during the assault the building caught fire According to Internal Affairs minister Arsen Avakov a separatist sniper fired at Ukrainian soldiers and civilians from the upper floors of a hospital 6 Avakov said that the counterattack resulted in the deaths of twenty separatists and the capture of four while the rest dispersed 10 26 He referred to the separatist militants as terrorists and warned that annihilation would be Ukraine s answer to future acts of terrorism 26 Avakov s account of what happened was contested by some Mariupol residents who spoke to reporters from The New York Times the BBC and The Independent shortly after the incident 5 25 26 The residents many of whom showed their Ukrainian passports to prove they were not from Russia 26 said that the government had attacked local police who were sympathetic to protesters 5 25 26 One version of events put forward by a group of residents cited by The New York Times was that the clash was sparked by Mariupol police rebelling against a new police chief sent by the interim government in Kyiv 5 The BBC report included a video showing pro Russian activists trying unsuccessfully to stop armoured vehicles from moving into the city 25 nbsp Burnt out office of PrivatBank in Mariupol The building was set on fire on 4 May 2014 After the fighting the Ukrainian forces withdrew from the city leaving it fully under control of pro Russian protesters The military retained control over checkpoints surrounding the city 27 The Ukrainian government said that its forces withdrew to avoid further aggravation 28 The troops moving out of the city shot at unarmed civilians according to The Guardian 29 30 31 Anna Neistat from Human Rights Watch stated my preliminary findings suggest that Ukrainian units might indeed have used excessive force near the drama theater which resulted in deaths and injuries of some unarmed people and urged a full thorough investigation 32 source source source source source source source Video of a captured APC in Mariupol One armoured personnel carrier was captured by pro Russian protesters After the clashes the protesters built barricades on roads in the city centre 4 13 Overnight the city administration building was set ablaze 33 and three gun shops were looted 34 The next day insurgents set alight the captured armoured vehicle causing the ammunition inside to explode 11 Individuals also threw petrol bombs at the city prosecutor s office and a military building setting them on fire 35 On 11 May 2014 eight polling places were set up in Mariupol for the DPR s referendum on self rule The low number of polling places caused queues hundreds of metres long 36 Intervention of Metinvest steelworkers edit Metinvest in conjunction with owners Rinat Akhmetov and Vadim Novinsky announced on 11 May 2014 that the company would be forming citywide militia groups from local steelworkers to work with police The squads were intended to protect civilians from looters and criminals operating in the city Akhmetov urged the Ukrainian government to refrain from sending its forces to the city and to start negotiations with the insurgents 36 37 38 nbsp Civilians gather next to a deployment of soldiersAn agreement initiated by Metinvest was signed on 15 May by steel plant directors police and community leaders and a representative of the Donetsk People s Republic separatists 39 40 Steelworkers and security guards from Metinvest along with local police began joint patrols in the city of Mariupol 41 42 Associated Press reported that these groups forced the insurgents out of the buildings that they had been occupying 41 Although a DPR representative was party to the deal which led to this vacation of buildings by the insurgents 39 40 a local commander of those insurgents who had been occupying the building said that someone is trying to sow discord among us someone has signed something but we will continue our fight and that everyone ran away 41 Steelworkers could be seen removing barricades from the city centre and also cleaning up the burnt city administration building 42 By the morning of 16 May 2014 Associated Press journalists could find no trace of the insurgents in Mariupol city centre 41 On 16 May however it seemed that separatists were not banished from the city reporters from The Washington Post said that about a hundred pro Russian activists gathered on the steps of the city administration building and that the separatist flag continued to fly over it 43 Radio Free Europe reported on 17 May that separatist militants unarmed but some wearing balaclavas were patrolling Mariupol alongside police 44 On 19 May 2014 CNN reporters found DPR supporters including armed militia running their headquarters in a suburb of Mariupol 45 The leader of the group Denis Kuzmenko told the reporters he welcomed the role of the steelworkers in the city 45 Government recapture of Mariupol edit On the morning of 13 June 2014 heavy fighting resumed as part of military operations in Mariupol in which the Azov and Dnipro 1 Battalions retook the city and key buildings occupied by insurgents killing five militants and destroying an insurgent BRDM 2 armoured vehicle 17 46 47 Two soldiers were also killed 7 and 4 11 separatists were captured 15 16 A military armoured personnel carrier was destroyed during the fighting 12 Internal Affairs minister Avakov said All key terrorist strongholds are being brought under control 48 As a result of the six hour battle Ukrainian forces hoisted the national flag over the insurgent headquarters in the city and said they had regained control of a 121 kilometre 75 mi stretch of the border with Russia 48 49 Immediately following the operation Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko instructed the chief of the Donetsk regional state administration Serhiy Taruta to temporarily move the regional capital to Mariupol 48 A minor incident occurred the next morning when a convoy of border guardsmen was attacked by insurgents whilst passing Mariupol leaving five guardsmen dead and seven wounded 9 OSCE monitors visited Mariupol to assess the situation in the city on 18 August 50 They reported that the city was calm and secure They spoke to a local activist who told them that the city had become stable in the months after the recapture of the city by government forces According to UNHCR there were at least 4 000 refugees from the ongoing war in the Donbas region at the time that the monitors visited the city Unofficial statistics cited by the OSCE gave the number of refugees in Mariupol as 20 000 50 Casualties editThere were conflicting reports regarding the number and identity of the dead with regard to the 9 May 2014 incident Internal Affairs minister Arsen Avakov stated that the operation resulted in the death of one policeman and about twenty people described as terrorists 13 Four militants were captured and five policemen were wounded 3 The Daily Telegraph reported that some locals thought that most of the between five and twenty people killed were innocent civilians 51 City traffic police chief Viktor Sayenko was killed in the fighting on 9 May 6 52 53 A Euronews report said Mariupol residents including the priest who conducted Sayenko s funeral were unsure how he was killed or who was responsible 52 Chief of Police Valery Andruschuk was captured by pro Russian forces He was released on 12 May and was found in serious condition with a brain injury brain contusion and broken ribs 54 It was confirmed later that two pro government territorial defence battalion paramilitaries were killed as well One of them was the deputy commander of the Dnipro Battalion Serhiy Demydenko who was killed by sniper fire 6 Citing eyewitnesses Mariupol internet publication 0629 reported that terrorists took Demidenko s dead body and cut his ears off and gouged his eyes 10 Eight soldiers were also wounded in the fighting 6 The Mariupol city administration declared 10 May 2014 as a day of mourning in honour of those killed in the 9 May incident 55 Residents placed flowers in front of the gutted police station 56 A large public funeral was held in Kyiv on 12 May for an Azov Battalion member who was killed in the fighting 2 A further violent death was reported on 25 May when the Ukrainian government said its special police had killed a bodyguard of Mariupol DPR leader Denis Kuzmenko while arresting Kuzmenko himself 14 Five separatists and two soldiers were killed during the takeover of the city by the military on 13 June 2014 7 Five border guards were killed and seven wounded in an ambush attack on a military convoy on 14 June 2014 9 A report by Human Rights Watch said that the Ukrainian military may have used excessive force during the battle of Mariupol 57 In January 2015 Kyiv Post cited a Bellingcat citizen s investigation into the May 2014 events in Mariupol It asserted that Ukrainian soldiers had made a decided effort to avoid firing directly at the protesters whilst taking fire and suffering casualties themselves According to the investigation of the thirteen people listed killed six were Ukrainian law enforcement officers soldiers or members of the Azov Battalion 24 Legacy editOn 13 June 2015 a monument to the defenders of the Military Unit No 3057 was unveiled in the city on the first anniversary of the battle 58 A documentary film on the Public TV of Azov called Year of Freedom Mariupol After DNR was released in 2015 59 Mariupol Liberation Day from Russian Occupation Ukrainian Den zvilnennya Mariupolya vid prorosijskih teroristiv was celebrated annually on 13 June being an official holiday in the city It was first celebrated at the state level in 2016 the second anniversary On this day the Azov Regiment held an organized military parade at 10 00 am The Russian victory in the 2022 Siege of Mariupol effectively ended the celebration of Mariupol Liberation Day 5th anniversary edit On Liberation Day 2019 the traditional military parade was held during which soldiers of the Azov Regiment Military Unit 3057 representatives of the National Police and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine marched 60 61 President Volodymyr Zelensky paid an official visit to the city attending joint military exercises and the opening of a demining center 62 Gala concerts were also held throughout the city 63 64 See also editOffensive on Mariupol September 2014 Offensive on Mariupol January 2015 References edit Vasovic Aleksandar 13 June 2014 Ukrainian forces reclaim port city from rebels Reuters Archived from the original on 10 October 2015 Retrieved 14 June 2014 a b Svit u video v Kiyevi proshalisya z bijcem specpidrozdilu Azov yakij zaginuv u Mariupoli The world in video in Kiev said goodbye to the soldier of special forces Azov who was lost in Mariupol Radiosvoboda org Retrieved 14 May 2014 a b c Walker Shaun and Grytsenko Oksana 9 May 2014 Ukraine crisis three people killed in fighting at Mariupol police station The Guardian Retrieved 10 May 2014 a b c Blair David 9 May 2014 Ukraine crisis over 20 killed in Mariupol as Putin marks victory in Crimea The Daily Telegraph a b c d Ukraine Forces Attack Militant Held Police Station The New York Times 10 May 2014 a b c d e Avakov U Mariupoli snajper subject z dahu likarni po lyudyah Avakov In Mariupol a sniper fired at people from the roof of the hospital Ukrayinska Pravda 9 May 2014 a b c d Al Jazeera and agencies Ukrainian troops regain port city of Mariupol Retrieved 23 October 2014 a b Ukrainian troops drive rebels out of Mariupol The Washington Post Associated Press 13 June 2014 Archived from the original on 24 June 2014 a b c V Mariupole na post mostu rasstrelyali kolonnu pogranichnikov Est pogibshie FOTO VIDEO Mariupol A column of border guards was shot dead in a post bridge in Mariupol There are dead PHOTOS VIDEO 0629 com ua Sajt goroda Mariupolya a b c d e f Avakov says 21 dead in Mariupol after clashes between police and separatists on Victory Day Kyiv Post 9 May 2014 a b West warns Russia ahead of illegal east Ukraine referendums The Australian 29 August 2013 Retrieved 14 June 2014 a b Ukraine launches dawn raid on rebel held Mariupol the Guardian Archived from the original on 13 June 2014 Retrieved 23 October 2014 a b c At least 7 dead in southeastern Ukraine port city Associated Press via Newsinfo inquirer net 10 May 2014 a b Birnbaum Michael 25 May 2014 In Ukrainian election chocolate tycoon Poroshenko claims victory The Washington Post Retrieved 26 May 2014 a b Four Ukrainian troops injured as anti terrorist operation moves to Mariupol VIDEO Kyiv Post 13 June 2014 Archived from the original on 14 June 2014 Retrieved 30 January 2017 a b AFP 14 June 2014 US accuses Russia of sending rocket launchers to Ukraine rebels Telegraph co uk Retrieved 23 October 2014 a b Cenzor NET Battalion Azov and Dnepr 1 killed five terrorists took a couple of buildings and knocked BRDM Cenzor NET Retrieved 23 October 2014 Mariupol Protesters Stormed the City Council nahnews com ua 18 March 2014 Archived from the original on 14 July 2014 Retrieved 9 May 2014 a b Reynolds James 17 April 2014 Putin cautious on right to send troops into Ukraine BBC News Retrieved 17 April 2014 Ukraine Crisis Mariupol City Hall liberated by Government Forces International Business Times 24 April 2014 Retrieved 10 May 2014 Ukraine crisis BBC investigates Mariupol liberation claims BBC 25 April 2014 Rainsford Sarah 7 May 2014 Ukraine crisis Pro Russians seize back Mariupol city hall BBC Galpin Richart 8 May 2014 Ukraine crisis Pro Russia rebel vote to go ahead BBC a b Tucker Maxim 28 January 2015 Ukrainian troops were shot at during May 9 protests in Mariupol report finds KyivPost Archived from the original on 29 January 2015 Retrieved 28 October 2016 a b c d Ukraine Blood bath in Mariupol BBC 9 May 2014 a b c d e Ukraine crisis Bloody assault in Mariupol dashes hopes of avoiding civil war Independent co uk 9 May 2014 Retrieved 10 May 2014 Minoboroni blokposti navkolo Mariupolya pid kontrolem ZSU 8 vijskovih poraneni Ukrayinska pravda Ministry of Defense checkpoints around Mariupol under the control of the Armed Forces 8 servicemen wounded amp 124 Ukrainian Truth Pravda Ukrayinska Pravda 9 May 2014 Retrieved 14 May 2014 12 May 2014 Military were withdrawn from Mariupol to avoid further aggravation Kyiv Post Shaun Walker 10 May 2014 East Ukraine goes to the polls for independence referendum The Observer The Guardian Retrieved 14 May 2014 Ukraine rebels plan referendum on Sunday The Hindu 11 May 2014 Ukraine pro Russian protesters control streets of Mariupol on day after deadly fighting The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 14 May 2014 Anna Neistat 10 May 2014 Dispatches Truth a Casualty in Ukraine Conflict Human Rights Watch Archived from the original on 10 May 2014 Retrieved 14 June 2014 U Mariupoli gorit miskrada Ukrayinska pravda The City Council is burning in Mariupol amp 124 Ukrainian Pravda Ukrayinska Pravda 9 May 2014 Retrieved 14 May 2014 U Mariupoli separatisti polyuyut na zbroyu Ukrayinska pravda In Mariupol separatists are hunting for weapons amp 124 Ukrainian Pravda Ukrayinska Pravda 10 May 2014 Retrieved 14 May 2014 Zdanie gorodskoj prokuratury i voinskaya chast goryat v Interfaks The building of the city prosecutor s office and the military unit are on fire in Interfax Interfax ru 19 March 2014 Retrieved 14 May 2014 a b Robinson Matt Rebels declare victory in east Ukraine vote on self rule Reuters Archived from the original on 17 November 2014 Retrieved 14 May 2014 LIGABiznesInformInformacionnoe agentstvo 11 May 2014 Zavody Ahmetova sozdayut druzhiny dlya zashity Mariupolya ot maroderov Akhmetov s factories are creating squads to protect Mariupol from looters News liga net Retrieved 14 May 2014 11 May 2014 V MARIUPOLE NAChALOS FORMIROVANIE NARODNYH DRUZhIN IZ ChISLA METALLURGOV FORMATION OF PEOPLE S TEAMS FROM METALLURGISTS BEGINS IN MARIUPOL Metinvestholding com Retrieved 26 May 2014 a b Mariupolskie metallurgi gorodskaya vlast obshestvennost Mariupolya i lider DNR podpisali Memorandum o poryadke i bezopasnosti Mariupol metallurgists city authorities Mariupol public and DNR leader sign Memorandum of Order and Security 6 November 2005 Archived from the original on 17 May 2014 Retrieved 14 June 2014 a b Karmanau Uras Associated Press 16 May 2014 Steelworkers Take Back East Ukraine City in Huge Power Shift Business Insider Retrieved 25 May 2014 a b c d Pro Russian insurgents retreat from buildings in Mariupol CBC News 16 May 2014 Retrieved 16 May 2014 a b Latest from the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine based on information received until 18 00 hrs 14 May Press release Organization for Security and Co operation in Europe 14 May 2014 Retrieved 16 May 2014 Kunkle Frederick 16 May 2014 Steelworkers help keep uneasy calm in eastern Ukraine The Washington Post Charles Recknagel 17 May 2014 Gray Zone Mariupol Sinks Into Power Vacuum Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty a b Greene Richard Allen 19 May 2014 Who s in charge here In one eastern Ukrainian city answer isn t clear CNN Retrieved 25 May 2014 Mariupol militia loses five men in combat Kyiv Post 13 June 2014 Retrieved 14 June 2014 Ukraine crisis Kiev forces win back Mariupol BBC News 13 June 2014 a b c Miller Christopher 18 November 2011 Ukrainian Forces Seize Crucial Port City From Pro Russia Separatists Mashable Retrieved 14 June 2014 Ukraine Troops Storm Rebel Held Buildings Sky news Retrieved 14 June 2014 a b Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission SMM to Ukraine based on information received as of 18 00 Kyiv time 18 August 2014 Press release Organization for Security and Co operation in Europe 19 August 2014 Retrieved 19 August 2014 Blair David Seven Ukrainian soldiers killed in ambush The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 14 May 2014 a b 11 May 2014 Ukraine Funeral held for slain traffic police chief in divided Mariupol Euronews Retrieved 26 May 2014 Mariupol police confirm death of traffic police chief Sayenko Kyiv Post 10 May 2014 Archived from the original on 10 May 2014 Retrieved 14 May 2014 Nachalnika miliciyi Mariupolya zvilnili z travmami ale zhivij Ukrayinska pravda Mariupol police chief fired with injuries but alive amp 124 Ukrainian Pravda Ukrayinska Pravda Retrieved 14 May 2014 Mariupol holds day of mourning on May 10 City Council Interfax Ukraine 10 May 2014 Retrieved 19 May 2014 Blair David 10 May 2014 Ukraine Security forces abandon Mariupol ahead of referendum The Daily Telegraph Neistat Anna 10 May 2014 Dispatches Truth a Casualty in Ukraine Conflict Human Rights Watch Retrieved 14 October 2014 V Mariupole otkryli pamyatnik geroyam zashitivshim voinskuyu chast 3057 vesnoj 2014 go FOTO Monument to heroes who defended military unit 3057 unveiled in Mariupol in spring 2014 PHOTOS 0629 com ua Sajt goroda Mariupolya Rik vizvolennya Mariupol pislya DNR Year of liberation Mariupol after the DNR Archived 15 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine The year of Freedom Mariupol after DNR English subs dokumentalnij film Voennyj parad turnir i koncert kak Mariupol otmetit 5 letie osvobozhdeniya Military parade tournament and concert how Mariupol will celebrate the 5th anniversary of liberation Archived from the original on 7 March 2022 Retrieved 28 June 2020 Godovshina osvobozhdeniya Mariupolya kak 5 let nazad sily ATO prognali vraga iz goroda Anniversary of the liberation of Mariupol how 5 years ago the anti terrorist operation forces drove the enemy out of the city Zelenskiy Visits Mariupol As City Celebrates Fifth Anniversary Of Liberation www rferl org Mariupol otmetit 5 letie osvobozhdeniya voennym paradom i koncertom TNMK i Tayanna Mariupol will mark the 5th anniversary of the liberation with a military parade and a concert by TNMK and Tayanna V Mariupole nachalsya prazdnichnyj uikend posvyashennyj 5 letiyu osvobozhdeniya goroda ot okkupantov A festive weekend dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the liberation of the city from the occupiers has started in Mariupol YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Mariupol 2014 amp oldid 1177856461, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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