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Battle of Sievierodonetsk (2022)

March 03, 2023

For other uses, see Battle of Sievierodonetsk.

Battle of Sievierodonetsk
Part of the battle of Donbas during the 2022 Eastern Ukraine offensive

Smoke from the Azot chemical plant after being attacked by Russian forces in the city
Date6 May – 25 June 2022
(1 month, 2 weeks and 5 days)
Location
Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Result Russian victory[2]
Territorial
changes		 Russian forces capture the city of Sievierodonetsk and the settlements of Syrotyne, Voronove and Borivske.[3]
Belligerents
  Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Roman Kutuzov †[1]
Sergey Surovikin[4]
Aleksandr Lapin[4]

Oleksandr Stryuk[5][6]
(Sievierodonetsk Military-Civil Administration Head)
Oleh Hryhorov[7]
(regional police chief)

Petro Kuzyk[8]
Units involved

 Russian Armed Forces

National Guard of Russia

LPR People's Militia (2nd Army Corps)
DPR People's Militia (1st Army Corps)[1]
Wagner Group[7][11]

 Ukrainian Armed Forces

Strength
12,500 (in Luhansk, per Ukraine)[22]
 Unknown
Casualties and losses
ISW claim:
Heavy[23]
Ukrainian claim:
10,000–11,000 killed (2,000 LPR servicemen), 20,000+ wounded[24]		 ISW claim:
Heavy[23]
Ukrainian claim:
161+ killed, wounded or captured[25][26]
Russian claim:
1,220 killed (15, 23 and 24 June only)
1,000 casualties, including 800 prisoners (Zolote cauldron)[27][28][29]
Ukrainian claim (13 April–26 May):
1,100 civilians killed[30]

The Battle of Sievierodonetsk was a military engagement in the wider battle of Donbas of the Eastern Ukraine offensive during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The city of Sievierodonetsk acted as the administrative center of unoccupied Luhansk Oblast prior to the invasion. By May 2022, Sievierodonetsk and the neighbouring city of Lysychansk were the only notable parts of the oblast that remained under Ukrainian control.[7]

By 14 June 2022, Russian forces had gained control of most of the city and cut off most escape routes.[31][32] On 24 June 2022, Ukrainian units were ordered to retreat from the city[33] and the next day Russian and pro-Russian separatist forces fully captured Sievierodonetsk.[2] The Russian advance shifted towards neighbouring Lysychansk, resulting in the battle of Lysychansk.[34]

The battle of Sievierodonetsk was marked by fierce urban combat[35][36][37] and has been described as one of the war's bloodiest.[38][39]

Background

 
Aftermath of Russian shelling in Sievierodonetsk on 6 April 2022

The twin cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk were the site of a series of battles in 2014 between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian military during the War in Donbas.[7] Soon after the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 28 February, Russian forces began to shell Sievierodonetsk.[40] According to Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Luhansk Oblast, one person was killed and several were injured. Gas pipelines were also hit by the shelling.[41] On 2 March, fighting was reported in almost all the villages near Sievierodonetsk.[42] Russian forces continued to shell the city, including a school gym that was acting as a bomb shelter. No deaths were reported.[43] At 15:20 that day, Ukrainian officials said Russian forces tried to break through Ukrainian lines towards the city, but were repelled.[44]

A month into its invasion, Russia claimed to control 93% of Luhansk Oblast,[45] leaving Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk as strategically important Ukrainian holdouts in the area.[7] Russian plans to capture Sievierodonetsk hinged upon its successes in the nearby cities of Rubizhne to the north and Popasna to the south.[46] By 6 April, Russian forces had reportedly captured 60% of Rubizhne,[47] and shells and rockets were landing in Sievierodonetsk on "regular, sustained intervals".[48] The next day, forces of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade conducted an offensive which reportedly drove Russian forces 6–10 kilometers away from the other nearby town of Kreminna.[12]

By 9 April, elements of the Russian 4th Guards Tank Division were reportedly concentrating near Sievierodonetsk.[9] Between 11 and 12 April, continued Russian attacks in the area gained no ground.[49][50] On 18 April, Russia renewed its offensive in eastern Ukraine, launching airstrikes on Sievierodonetsk.[51][52] By the end of April, most of Sievierodonetsk's civilian population had fled.[53]

In late April, Russian forces launched an all-out offensive along a 500-mile (800 km) front to fully capture remaining unoccupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.[7]

Battle

Encirclement attempts

 
Buildings in Sievierodonetsk destroyed by Russian artillery fire.

On 6 May, Russian and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) forces made gains in the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk, attacking the village of Voevodivka just north of the city, while also capturing the village of Voronove to the southeast. Other villages were also attacked in an attempt to surround the city.[54] Subsequently, it was reported by the city's mayor, Oleksandr Stryuk, that Sievierodonetsk was "virtually surrounded".[55] Over the next days, Russian and separatist forces attacked Bilohorivka, Voevodivka, and Lysychansk, intending to cut off Sievierodonetsk from the south. They also captured Popasna.[56]

On 9 May, LPR troops reportedly took control of Nyzhnie and started to attack Toshkivka, two settlements southeast of Sievierodonetsk. Heavy combat continued in Rubizhne, Voevodivka, and Bilohorivka, as Russian forces attempted to further encircle Sievierodonetsk from the western axis.[57] The next day, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian pontoon bridge across the Donets river in the vicinity of Bilohorivka, attempting to disrupt the Russian advance, and reportedly destroying almost an entire Russian battalion in the process.[58][59] According to Ukrainian regional police chief Oleh Hryhorov, Sievierodonetsk and its direct neighbor, Lysychansk, had become tactically encircled, as Russian artillery could freely hit the remaining open roads into the city. Power and water supply was disrupted in the cities, leaving tens of thousands of civilians without basic necessities.[7] By 12 May, Russian and LPR forces had defeated Ukrainian forces in the Battle of Rubizhne and established full control of the city, furthering their attempts at encircling Sievierodonetsk.[60][61]

For the most part, Russia subsequently ceased its ground attacks on the surroundings of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk and limited itself to artillery bombardments. Pro-Russian forces instead focused on completing the encirclement of the two cities. To this end, they attacked at the northern frontline around Izium and in the south toward Bakhmut. The northern attacks made little to no progress, but in the south, Russia made limited advances over several days of heavy combat. Fighting was mainly concentrated on a number of villages, including Toshkiva, Pylpchatyne, Hirske, and Zolote.[62][63][64]

Attack on the city

On 27 May, Russia began its direct ground assault against Sievierodonetsk, despite not yet having completely encircled the city. Chechen Kadyrovites captured the Mir Hotel in the northern part of the city. Meanwhile, other Russian and separatist forces continued their attempts to form a pocket in the urban areas, attacking from the north near Rubizhne and southwest at Ustynivka and Borisvske. Further to the west, Russia continued to slowly advance in a number of areas such as Lyman and Siversk to disrupt the Ukrainian supply lines to Sievierodonetsk-Lysychansk.[6] On the following day, 28 May, Russia made limited gains in Sievierodonetsk. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S.-based think tank and war observer, argued that the battle was already proving very costly for the Russian forces by this point, and could potentially exhaust their offensive capabilities. The ISW observed that both Russia and Ukraine were suffering heavy losses, but argued that personnel of the pro-Russian contingents were more difficult to replace.[23]

By 29 May, Russian forces had launched a full assault on the city. Ukrainian defenders repelled attacks but were unable to prevent Russia's encirclement efforts.[65] Russian troops were engaged in close-quarters fighting with Ukrainian soldiers,[66] with clashes reportedly taking place in the "middle of the city".[67]

By the morning of 31 May, Russian forces controlled between a third and a half of the city,[68][69] with the Russians pushing and dividing the city into two halves.[70] Later in the day, Ukraine confirmed between 70 and 80 percent of Sievierodonetsk was under Russian control,[71][72] as well as most of the surrounding villages.[73] Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region, reported on the street battles and said that "some Ukrainian troops have retreated to more advantageous, pre-prepared positions." By this time, about two-thirds of properties in the city were reportedly destroyed.[74]

On 1 June, according to Ukraine, the Azot chemical plant was hit by Russian bombardment, and a nitric acid tank blew up, forcing people to stay indoors.[75] On the following day, it was stated that around 800 civilians were hiding in bomb shelters beneath the Azot factory, which had also become a bastion of defence for some Ukrainian troops.[76][77] Meanwhile, Governor Haidai said that Russian forces had reached the city's core.[78] Ukrainian forces claimed they had captured six Russian soldiers[79] and killed 200.

 
A view of the Donets in peacetime, taken from the Pavlohradskyi Bridge, now severely damaged

According to the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence, as of 2 June, Russia had taken control of most of Sievierodonetsk.[80] The following day, 3 June, a Ukrainian counterattack regained 20 percent of the territory it had lost within the city.[81][82] Haidai stated that Ukrainian forces had repulsed a number of Russian attacks and destroyed equipment. He also claimed that Russia was "throwing all their reserves at Sievierodonetsk" and it was "impossible to deliver food and medicine to the city".[83] Haidai added that Russia was blowing up bridges over the Donets to prevent Ukrainian reinforcements and the delivery of aid.[84] At least 12 members of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion were fighting in the city, including a Georgian and Portuguese national.[85] According to Reuters, two of its journalists were wounded and their driver was killed near Sievierodonetsk.[86]

Governor Haidai stated that Russian general Aleksandr Dvornikov had "received the task by June 10 of either completely capturing Sievierodonetsk, or completely cutting off the Lysychansk-Bakhmut highway and taking it under control."[87] The UK Ministry of Defence said that Russia was using tactics similar to those used in Syria by using forces other than its own soldiers as a way to reduce Russian casualties, including soldiers from the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). These soldiers were not as well trained or equipped as regular Russian soldiers.[88]

On 6 June, Haidai described the Ukrainian situation: "Our defenders managed to counterattack for a while – they liberated almost half of the city. However, now the situation has worsened for us again." In regards to the Lysychansk-Sievierodonetsk road, he said the Russians "do not control this road, but the entire route is being shelled. The Russians have amassed huge reserves. Time will tell whether they will have enough strength to take this route." He described Russian forces as being "simply incredible" in terms of numbers and equipment. Russian forces, he reported, were implementing "standard scorched earth tactics."[89] Major General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, stated that Ukrainian forces were slowly advancing despite "a tenfold advantage of the enemy in artillery".[90] Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Lysychansk and said "we're holding out" and "there are more of them and they are stronger", vowing that the Ukrainian army would not give up positions in the city despite apparent Russian tactical superiority on the front line.[91]

The commander of the Ukrainian National Guard's Svoboda Battalion, Petro Kuzyk, described the street fighting as fierce and "horrifying". "There have been counterattack attempts – some successful, others not. There is constant pressure from their side. Some divisions had to pull back a block, while other divisions, including ours, were able to hold their positions. But all this is happening in extremely tough conditions," said Kuzyk, adding that they were "literally fighting for every house, every street. One day we might move one block forward, another day they push us back a block ... we can't rely solely on the infantry's stamina, we also need enough troops and resources such as tanks and artillery."[92]

On 8 June the Ukrainian general staff said that it was "holding back" Russian attacks.[93] However, according to the BBC, military analysis said "it's difficult to know which army is in control of which territory."[94] Haidai stressed that "nobody is going to give up the city, even if our military will have to pull back to more fortified positions, as the city is constantly being shelled. Still, it wouldn't mean the city is given up."[95] Meanwhile, Russia stated that the "Ukrainian group in the Donbas suffers significant losses in manpower, weapons and military equipment". The UK Ministry of Defence observed that "it is unlikely that either side has gained significant ground in the last 24 hours."[96] Later that day, Haidai admitted the Ukrainian army was pushed back to the outskirts of the city[97] due to intense Russian bombardment.[98] A lawyer for Dmytro Firtash, the owner of the Azot chemical plant, said 800 civilians remained at the plant, 200 of whom were employees.[99] Haidai said that Ukrainian forces could not rescue citizens left behind in the city.[100]

On 9 June, Haidai said that more than 90% of the city was under Russian control.[101] Svoboda Battalion commander Petro Kuzyk said the Ukrainians were deliberately drawing Russian infantry into urban warfare conditions as a tactic to negate artillery fire. He further claimed: "Yesterday was successful for us - we launched a counteroffensive and in some areas we managed to push them back one or two blocks. In others they pushed us back, but just by a building or two. Yesterday the occupiers suffered serious losses - if every day were like yesterday, this would all be over soon." Kuzyk again complained about a lack of artillery and medical supplies, saying "there is an order to hold our positions and we are holding them. It is unbelievable what the surgeons are doing without the proper equipment to save soldiers' lives."[102]

On 10 June, the UK Ministry of Defence said: "As of 10 June, Russian forces around Sievierodonetsk have not made advances into the south of the city. Intense street-to-street fighting is ongoing and both sides are likely suffering high numbers of casualties."[103]

On 11 June, LPR officials said there were talks underway with Ukrainian forces in the Azot plant regarding the evacuation of 500 civilians present at the air defense bunkers, another 400 Ukrainian servicemen were also present at the plant.[104]

On 12 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said both sides were fighting for "literally every metre." Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukrainian commander-in-chief, claimed that artillery gave the Russians a "tenfold advantage." According to Leonid Pasechnik, the head of the LPR, Ukrainian forces were the ones shelling Sievierodonetsk from the Azot plant.[105] Haidai said the defenders' situation "...remains difficult. Fighting continues, but unfortunately, most of the city is under Russian control. Some positional battles are taking place in the streets." As to claims about the Azot plant: "The story about the blockade of the Azot plant is a complete lie spread by Russian propagandists."[106] Haidai also told Ukrainian TV that Ukrainian forces were failing at street fighting, and that Russian artillery was winning the fighting in residential areas.[107]

On 13 June, according to Governor Haidai, the last of three bridges connecting Sievierodonetsk to the rest of Ukraine was destroyed. Russian forces reportedly controlled 70 percent of the city. Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) representative, Eduard Basurin, said to the media: "Ukrainian divisions that are there [in Sievierodonetsk] are there forever."[108] The BBC reported that all three bridges that crossed the Donets river into the city had been destroyed.[109]

By 14 June 2022, Ukrainian sources acknowledged that Russia controlled 80 percent of the city and had cut off civilian evacuation routes.[31][32]

Ukraine rejects surrender ultimatum

By 15 June, much of Sievierodonetsk was "largely in ruins" and Russia had urged Ukrainian defenders to stop "senseless resistance and lay down arms". Russian authorities said it had opened a humanitarian corridor from the Azot plant towards Russian territory while accusing Ukraine of disrupting evacuation efforts. Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said Russian forces were storming the city from several directions but insisted Ukrainian forces were not completely cut off and evacuation routes still existed.[110][111] On 15 June, the Russian ultimatum for Ukraine to surrender the city was ignored and clashes continued.[110][111]

On 16 June, Ukrainian forces able to withdraw were reportedly ordered to withdraw towards Lysychansk.[112] The Ukrainian General Staff claimed to "retain several logistics routes to Sievierodonetsk despite the destruction of four bridges".[113] The next day, 17 June, Russian media reported that Ukrainian military personnel had "begun surrendering".[114] Meanwhile, the ISW observed that the battle had tied down Russian forces which could have been used elsewhere in the war, stating that Russia had "concentrated the vast majority of its available combat power to capture Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk at the expense of other axes of advance and is suffering heavy casualties to do so."[115]

On 18 June, Governor Serhiy Haidai wrote on Telegram: “Now the most fierce battles are near Sievierodonetsk. They [Russia] do not control the city entirely. Our defenders are fighting Russians in all directions.”[116] Ukraine claimed to have deployed AHS Krab to provide artillery support for their forces in the city.[117] The Ukrainians also claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on Russia's 11th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment, forcing it to withdraw "from the area of combat operations to restore combat capability."[118] Ukrainian general staff said that "as a result of artillery fire and an assault" Russian forces had partial success in the village of Metiolkine and were "trying to gain a foothold." Haidai referred to “tough battles” in the village, located southeast of the city. TASS claimed that "many" Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered.[119]

On 19 June, fresh Russian assaults forced Ukraine to commit reinforcements to the defence of Toshkivka, located southeast of the city. Tanks and Grad launchers were seen being deployed to reinforce the area, with a tank crewman purportedly confirming their destination. There were fears of a Russian pincer maneuver being used to entrap the Ukrainian forces in the Sievierodonetsk pocket, as the pocket was about 75% closed by Russian forces. The decision to hold onto Sievierodonetsk and continue fighting for the city was acknowledged by Ukrainian commanders as being risky, due to the risk of Russian encirclement. Former Ukrainian defence minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk said, "Right now, the main objective is to use the window of opportunity that we have to completely exhaust the Russians in the Donbas. If we would move, they would move. We would have to meet them somewhere. It's not like Putin wanted just Sievierodonetsk. They will keep going until they are stopped."[120]

Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said on 20 June that Ukraine still controlled "more than one third" of the city. The same day, Governor Haidai confirmed Ukraine had lost control of Metyolkine to Russian forces[121] and that "most" of Sievierodonetsk was under control of the Russian army, while the Ukrainian military controlled only the industrial zone and the territory of the Azot plant. He also said that the Lysychansk-Bakhmut road "had been shelled almost all day" while under firm Russian fire control.[122]

On 21 June, Haidai remarked on Russian forces, saying they "monitor the air day and night with drones, adjusts firepower, quickly adapts to our changes in defensive areas."[123]

On 22 June, the Ukrainians said they had lost control of the settlements of Toshkivka, Pidlisne [uk] and Myrna Dolyna, south of Lysychansk.[124] On 23 June, Russian forces cut off and surrounded the towns of Hirske and Zolote, which they claimed to have fully captured by the next day.[125][126]

Fall of Sievierodonetsk

On 24 June, Governor Haidai announced that Ukrainian forces were ordered to withdraw from the city, stating: "Remaining in positions that have been relentlessly shelled for months just doesn't make sense. They have received orders to retreat to new positions... and from there continue their operations."[127] CNN reported that amid continuing scorched earth tactics being applied by advancing Russian troops, Ukraine's armed forces were ordered to evacuate the city, leaving several hundred civilians seeking refuge in the Azot chemical plant, which was compared to the civilian refugees left at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol a month prior in May.[128] Concurrently, Russian sources stated that Ukrainian forces had suffered over 1,000 casualties, including 800 prisoners, in Hirske, Zolote, and near Lysychansk over the previous two days.[129] The withdrawal had been taking place over the previous several days.[130] The Ukrainian retreat over the Donets river was conducted mostly at night and the locations of the crossings were constantly changed due to Russian shelling. It is presumed no one was killed during the retreat.[131]

On 25 June, Russian forces took full control of Sievierodonetsk[2] following the Ukrainian military's withdrawal.[132] Approximately 10,000 civilians remained in the city, ten percent of the pre-war level.[133]

The nearby settlements of Syrotyne, Voronove and Borivske were captured as well.[3] At this time, Hanna Maliar, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, publicly criticized civilians for allegedly disrupting military operations during the battle by sharing military information on social media.[134][135]

Aftermath

Oleksiy Arestovych, an advisor to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claimed that Ukrainian special forces remained behind in the city to direct artillery strikes. According to TASS, Ukrainian shelling prevented the evacuation of civilians from the Azot chemical plant hours after Ukrainian troops left. There was no mention of the Ukrainian special forces engaging Russian soldiers directly.[136]

On 25 June, Russian and LPR forces began encircling Lysychansk.

In late June-early July, the Associated Press interviewed Ukrainian soldiers that retreated from Sievierodonetsk, some of whom called the battle "hell on Earth" and described the city as a "burnt-down desert." The second-in-command of the Ukraine National Guard's Svoboda Battalion, Lt. Volodymyr Nazarenko, said Russian tanks would destroy any potential defensive position during street engagements and that the city was "methodically leveled out" by daily shelling. Another soldier from the battalion remarked "those were not human conditions" they fought in, while also commending his comrades that held out before being ordered to withdraw, saying "the inner strength of our boys allowed them to hold the city until the last moment."[137]

On 8 July, two weeks after Sievierodonetsk was captured, Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai warned that living conditions in the city continued to deteriorate and the city was "on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe" as critical infrastructure and utilities such as water, electricity, and the sewage system remained inoperable while un-recovered corpses decomposed in hot apartment buildings. Haidai said the Russians were "unable to repair anything" and continued to accuse Russian forces of using "scorched earth" tactics during their offensive. He added that 8,000 people remained in the city at this time.[138]

Analysis

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) judged on 28 May that the Russian military was directing a large part of its combat-effective forces into the battle for Sievierodonetsk, weakening other front lines and risking exhausting its "remaining" troops. The ISW cautioned that the effort invested in the capture of Sievierodonetsk did not seem fitting for the location's limited strategic value.[23] Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov believed this was the last offensive Russia was able to undertake before Western military aid reached Ukrainian forces.[139] There were reports at the time that Ukrainian forces may be withdrawing to preserve their forces.[140]

On 4 June, the British ministry of defence said a Ukrainian counterattack in Sievierodonetsk had successfully slowed Russian momentum.[141] The ISW observed that Ukraine seemed to be maintaining a flexible defence of the city, with an aim of inflicting Russian casualties rather than holding all of Sievierodonetsk. Reportedly, following an advance on 5 June that recaptured approximately half of the city, Ukrainian forces pulled back after a Russian bombardment the next day.[142] On 6 June, Frederick Kagan said that Russian forces were "crawling forward using massive artillery barrages to obliterate everything in its path," allowing Russia's "demoralized and frightened" soldiers to advance.[143] The Ukrainian chief of staff, Valeriy Zaluzhny wrote on 12 June: "[The Russians] use artillery en masse and, unfortunately, they have a tenfold fire advantage. Despite everything, we keep holding our positions ... the situation is complicated, in particular, in the city of Sievierodonetsk. Up to seven battalion tactical groups were deployed by the enemy there. Despite the heavy fire, we managed to stop the enemy."[144]

On 17 June, Petro Kuzyk, commander of the Ukrainian Svoboda Battalion which partook in the battle, gave his analysis of the ongoing fighting in the city. He claimed that Ukraine controlled 40-60 percent of the city, however the lines were constantly shifting. He complained of the supplies of Western weapons, saying "We need serious equipment and need more tanks. At the moment, we're getting equipment for infantry soldiers. As a result, we have to fight a guerrilla war." Describing the Russian forces, he said "They have the tactic that if they see Ukrainians holding a position they do not attack or capture the buildings. They just level them," and that Russian tanks were "hitting us from a distance of two kilometres and hiding behind buildings." Kuzyk acknowledged the destruction of the three bridges linking to the city, but said Ukrainians were now using "boats, ropes, even swimming" to cross the river. He also expressed fear of a potential "ecological catastrophe" at the Azot chemical plant if "an unpredictable explosion happens."[145]

The ISW wrote on 20 June that Russian forces were likely to capture Sievierodonetsk "in the coming weeks, but at the cost of concentrating most of their available forces in this small area."[123] Serhiy Haidai stated on 23 June that Ukrainian troops may have to retreat to avoid encirclement in Lysychansk, while the ISW continued to assess that the Ukrainians "succeeded for weeks in drawing substantial quantities of Russian personnel, weapons, and equipment into the area and have likely degraded Russian forces' overall capabilities while preventing Russian forces from focusing on more advantageous axes of advance." Sievierodonetsk fell five days later.[146]

On 22 February 2023, Budanov described the defeat at Sievierodonetsk as one of the three major Ukrainian defeats during the Russo-Ukrainian War, the other two being the defeat at the battle of Volnovakha and the occupation of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by Russia in 2014.[147]

Casualties

Numerous attacks against civilian facilities occurred in Sievierodonetsk. On 17 March 2022, the Governor of Luhansk Oblast Serhiy Haidai reported that Russian forces had hit a shelter intended for mothers and children and declared that "there are no safe places in Luhansk Region anymore".[148] On 22 March, Haidai said that the Russians had shelled a children's hospital and set the roof on fire, although no one was wounded.[149] Damage to local churches was also reported.[150] On 7 April 2022, Russian forces reportedly struck a humanitarian aid center and set 10 high-rise buildings on fire in the city.[151]

In Lysychansk, 150 civilians killed in the city due to Russian strikes were reportedly buried in a mass grave on 25 May.[152] On 27 May, the mayor of Sievierodonetsk announced that more than 1,500 civilians had been killed since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022.[153]

By 30 May, the shelling had become so intense that Ukrainian officials had stopped counting casualties.[154]

On 14 June, Zelenskyy called for more foreign military aid, calling the human cost of the battle for Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk and the surrounding region "terrifying".[155]

On 8 July, Ukraine's governor of Luhansk province, Serhiy Haidai, claimed that hundreds of Kadyrovites died during the battle for Sievierodonetsk, but did not provide an exact number. He also claimed one of the leaders of the Chechen division of Russia's National Guard was seriously wounded during clashes and "may be on the verge of life and death".[156]

See also

References

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March 03, 2023
battle, sievierodonetsk, 2022, other, uses, battle, sievierodonetsk, battle, sievierodonetskpart, battle, donbas, during, 2022, eastern, ukraine, offensivesmoke, from, azot, chemical, plant, after, being, attacked, russian, forces, citydate6, june, 2022, month. For other uses see Battle of Sievierodonetsk Battle of SievierodonetskPart of the battle of Donbas during the 2022 Eastern Ukraine offensiveSmoke from the Azot chemical plant after being attacked by Russian forces in the cityDate6 May 25 June 2022 1 month 2 weeks and 5 days LocationSievierodonetsk Luhansk Oblast UkraineResultRussian victory 2 TerritorialchangesRussian forces capture the city of Sievierodonetsk and the settlements of Syrotyne Voronove and Borivske 3 Belligerents Russia Luhansk PR Donetsk PR 1 UkraineCommanders and leadersRoman Kutuzov 1 Sergey Surovikin 4 Aleksandr Lapin 4 Oleksandr Stryuk 5 6 Sievierodonetsk Military Civil Administration Head Oleh Hryhorov 7 regional police chief Petro Kuzyk 8 Units involved Russian Armed Forces Russian Ground Forces 4th Guards Tank Division 423rd Motor Rifle Regiment 9 13th Tank Regiment 9 Central Grouping of Forces 10 National Guard of Russia Kadyrovites 6 LPR People s Militia 2nd Army Corps DPR People s Militia 1st Army Corps 1 Wagner Group 7 11 Ukrainian Armed Forces Ukrainian Ground Forces 128th Mountain Assault Brigade 12 53rd Mechanized Brigade 13 81st Airmobile Brigade 14 National Guard of Ukraine 15 16 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade 15 17 18 International Legion 19 Sheikh Mansur Battalion 20 Kastus Kalinoŭski Regiment 21 irregular civilian volunteersStrength12 500 in Luhansk per Ukraine 22 UnknownCasualties and lossesISW claim Heavy 23 Ukrainian claim 10 000 11 000 killed 2 000 LPR servicemen 20 000 wounded 24 ISW claim Heavy 23 Ukrainian claim 161 killed wounded or captured 25 26 Russian claim 1 220 killed 15 23 and 24 June only 1 000 casualties including 800 prisoners Zolote cauldron 27 28 29 Ukrainian claim 13 April 26 May 1 100 civilians killed 30 The Battle of Sievierodonetsk was a military engagement in the wider battle of Donbas of the Eastern Ukraine offensive during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine The city of Sievierodonetsk acted as the administrative center of unoccupied Luhansk Oblast prior to the invasion By May 2022 Sievierodonetsk and the neighbouring city of Lysychansk were the only notable parts of the oblast that remained under Ukrainian control 7 By 14 June 2022 Russian forces had gained control of most of the city and cut off most escape routes 31 32 On 24 June 2022 Ukrainian units were ordered to retreat from the city 33 and the next day Russian and pro Russian separatist forces fully captured Sievierodonetsk 2 The Russian advance shifted towards neighbouring Lysychansk resulting in the battle of Lysychansk 34 The battle of Sievierodonetsk was marked by fierce urban combat 35 36 37 and has been described as one of the war s bloodiest 38 39 Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 2 1 Encirclement attempts 2 2 Attack on the city 2 3 Ukraine rejects surrender ultimatum 2 4 Fall of Sievierodonetsk 3 Aftermath 4 Analysis 5 Casualties 6 See also 7 ReferencesBackground Aftermath of Russian shelling in Sievierodonetsk on 6 April 2022 The twin cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk were the site of a series of battles in 2014 between pro Russian separatists and the Ukrainian military during the War in Donbas 7 Soon after the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine on 28 February Russian forces began to shell Sievierodonetsk 40 According to Serhiy Haidai the governor of Luhansk Oblast one person was killed and several were injured Gas pipelines were also hit by the shelling 41 On 2 March fighting was reported in almost all the villages near Sievierodonetsk 42 Russian forces continued to shell the city including a school gym that was acting as a bomb shelter No deaths were reported 43 At 15 20 that day Ukrainian officials said Russian forces tried to break through Ukrainian lines towards the city but were repelled 44 A month into its invasion Russia claimed to control 93 of Luhansk Oblast 45 leaving Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk as strategically important Ukrainian holdouts in the area 7 Russian plans to capture Sievierodonetsk hinged upon its successes in the nearby cities of Rubizhne to the north and Popasna to the south 46 By 6 April Russian forces had reportedly captured 60 of Rubizhne 47 and shells and rockets were landing in Sievierodonetsk on regular sustained intervals 48 The next day forces of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade conducted an offensive which reportedly drove Russian forces 6 10 kilometers away from the other nearby town of Kreminna 12 By 9 April elements of the Russian 4th Guards Tank Division were reportedly concentrating near Sievierodonetsk 9 Between 11 and 12 April continued Russian attacks in the area gained no ground 49 50 On 18 April Russia renewed its offensive in eastern Ukraine launching airstrikes on Sievierodonetsk 51 52 By the end of April most of Sievierodonetsk s civilian population had fled 53 In late April Russian forces launched an all out offensive along a 500 mile 800 km front to fully capture remaining unoccupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts 7 BattleEncirclement attempts Buildings in Sievierodonetsk destroyed by Russian artillery fire On 6 May Russian and Luhansk People s Republic LPR forces made gains in the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk attacking the village of Voevodivka just north of the city while also capturing the village of Voronove to the southeast Other villages were also attacked in an attempt to surround the city 54 Subsequently it was reported by the city s mayor Oleksandr Stryuk that Sievierodonetsk was virtually surrounded 55 Over the next days Russian and separatist forces attacked Bilohorivka Voevodivka and Lysychansk intending to cut off Sievierodonetsk from the south They also captured Popasna 56 On 9 May LPR troops reportedly took control of Nyzhnie and started to attack Toshkivka two settlements southeast of Sievierodonetsk Heavy combat continued in Rubizhne Voevodivka and Bilohorivka as Russian forces attempted to further encircle Sievierodonetsk from the western axis 57 The next day Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian pontoon bridge across the Donets river in the vicinity of Bilohorivka attempting to disrupt the Russian advance and reportedly destroying almost an entire Russian battalion in the process 58 59 According to Ukrainian regional police chief Oleh Hryhorov Sievierodonetsk and its direct neighbor Lysychansk had become tactically encircled as Russian artillery could freely hit the remaining open roads into the city Power and water supply was disrupted in the cities leaving tens of thousands of civilians without basic necessities 7 By 12 May Russian and LPR forces had defeated Ukrainian forces in the Battle of Rubizhne and established full control of the city furthering their attempts at encircling Sievierodonetsk 60 61 For the most part Russia subsequently ceased its ground attacks on the surroundings of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk and limited itself to artillery bombardments Pro Russian forces instead focused on completing the encirclement of the two cities To this end they attacked at the northern frontline around Izium and in the south toward Bakhmut The northern attacks made little to no progress but in the south Russia made limited advances over several days of heavy combat Fighting was mainly concentrated on a number of villages including Toshkiva Pylpchatyne Hirske and Zolote 62 63 64 Attack on the city On 27 May Russia began its direct ground assault against Sievierodonetsk despite not yet having completely encircled the city Chechen Kadyrovites captured the Mir Hotel in the northern part of the city Meanwhile other Russian and separatist forces continued their attempts to form a pocket in the urban areas attacking from the north near Rubizhne and southwest at Ustynivka and Borisvske Further to the west Russia continued to slowly advance in a number of areas such as Lyman and Siversk to disrupt the Ukrainian supply lines to Sievierodonetsk Lysychansk 6 On the following day 28 May Russia made limited gains in Sievierodonetsk The Institute for the Study of War ISW a U S based think tank and war observer argued that the battle was already proving very costly for the Russian forces by this point and could potentially exhaust their offensive capabilities The ISW observed that both Russia and Ukraine were suffering heavy losses but argued that personnel of the pro Russian contingents were more difficult to replace 23 By 29 May Russian forces had launched a full assault on the city Ukrainian defenders repelled attacks but were unable to prevent Russia s encirclement efforts 65 Russian troops were engaged in close quarters fighting with Ukrainian soldiers 66 with clashes reportedly taking place in the middle of the city 67 By the morning of 31 May Russian forces controlled between a third and a half of the city 68 69 with the Russians pushing and dividing the city into two halves 70 Later in the day Ukraine confirmed between 70 and 80 percent of Sievierodonetsk was under Russian control 71 72 as well as most of the surrounding villages 73 Serhiy Haidai the governor of the Luhansk region reported on the street battles and said that some Ukrainian troops have retreated to more advantageous pre prepared positions By this time about two thirds of properties in the city were reportedly destroyed 74 On 1 June according to Ukraine the Azot chemical plant was hit by Russian bombardment and a nitric acid tank blew up forcing people to stay indoors 75 On the following day it was stated that around 800 civilians were hiding in bomb shelters beneath the Azot factory which had also become a bastion of defence for some Ukrainian troops 76 77 Meanwhile Governor Haidai said that Russian forces had reached the city s core 78 Ukrainian forces claimed they had captured six Russian soldiers 79 and killed 200 A view of the Donets in peacetime taken from the Pavlohradskyi Bridge now severely damaged According to the United Kingdom s Ministry of Defence as of 2 June Russia had taken control of most of Sievierodonetsk 80 The following day 3 June a Ukrainian counterattack regained 20 percent of the territory it had lost within the city 81 82 Haidai stated that Ukrainian forces had repulsed a number of Russian attacks and destroyed equipment He also claimed that Russia was throwing all their reserves at Sievierodonetsk and it was impossible to deliver food and medicine to the city 83 Haidai added that Russia was blowing up bridges over the Donets to prevent Ukrainian reinforcements and the delivery of aid 84 At least 12 members of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion were fighting in the city including a Georgian and Portuguese national 85 According to Reuters two of its journalists were wounded and their driver was killed near Sievierodonetsk 86 Governor Haidai stated that Russian general Aleksandr Dvornikov had received the task by June 10 of either completely capturing Sievierodonetsk or completely cutting off the Lysychansk Bakhmut highway and taking it under control 87 The UK Ministry of Defence said that Russia was using tactics similar to those used in Syria by using forces other than its own soldiers as a way to reduce Russian casualties including soldiers from the Luhansk People s Republic LPR These soldiers were not as well trained or equipped as regular Russian soldiers 88 On 6 June Haidai described the Ukrainian situation Our defenders managed to counterattack for a while they liberated almost half of the city However now the situation has worsened for us again In regards to the Lysychansk Sievierodonetsk road he said the Russians do not control this road but the entire route is being shelled The Russians have amassed huge reserves Time will tell whether they will have enough strength to take this route He described Russian forces as being simply incredible in terms of numbers and equipment Russian forces he reported were implementing standard scorched earth tactics 89 Major General Kyrylo Budanov head of Ukrainian military intelligence stated that Ukrainian forces were slowly advancing despite a tenfold advantage of the enemy in artillery 90 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Lysychansk and said we re holding out and there are more of them and they are stronger vowing that the Ukrainian army would not give up positions in the city despite apparent Russian tactical superiority on the front line 91 The commander of the Ukrainian National Guard s Svoboda Battalion Petro Kuzyk described the street fighting as fierce and horrifying There have been counterattack attempts some successful others not There is constant pressure from their side Some divisions had to pull back a block while other divisions including ours were able to hold their positions But all this is happening in extremely tough conditions said Kuzyk adding that they were literally fighting for every house every street One day we might move one block forward another day they push us back a block we can t rely solely on the infantry s stamina we also need enough troops and resources such as tanks and artillery 92 On 8 June the Ukrainian general staff said that it was holding back Russian attacks 93 However according to the BBC military analysis said it s difficult to know which army is in control of which territory 94 Haidai stressed that nobody is going to give up the city even if our military will have to pull back to more fortified positions as the city is constantly being shelled Still it wouldn t mean the city is given up 95 Meanwhile Russia stated that the Ukrainian group in the Donbas suffers significant losses in manpower weapons and military equipment The UK Ministry of Defence observed that it is unlikely that either side has gained significant ground in the last 24 hours 96 Later that day Haidai admitted the Ukrainian army was pushed back to the outskirts of the city 97 due to intense Russian bombardment 98 A lawyer for Dmytro Firtash the owner of the Azot chemical plant said 800 civilians remained at the plant 200 of whom were employees 99 Haidai said that Ukrainian forces could not rescue citizens left behind in the city 100 On 9 June Haidai said that more than 90 of the city was under Russian control 101 Svoboda Battalion commander Petro Kuzyk said the Ukrainians were deliberately drawing Russian infantry into urban warfare conditions as a tactic to negate artillery fire He further claimed Yesterday was successful for us we launched a counteroffensive and in some areas we managed to push them back one or two blocks In others they pushed us back but just by a building or two Yesterday the occupiers suffered serious losses if every day were like yesterday this would all be over soon Kuzyk again complained about a lack of artillery and medical supplies saying there is an order to hold our positions and we are holding them It is unbelievable what the surgeons are doing without the proper equipment to save soldiers lives 102 On 10 June the UK Ministry of Defence said As of 10 June Russian forces around Sievierodonetsk have not made advances into the south of the city Intense street to street fighting is ongoing and both sides are likely suffering high numbers of casualties 103 On 11 June LPR officials said there were talks underway with Ukrainian forces in the Azot plant regarding the evacuation of 500 civilians present at the air defense bunkers another 400 Ukrainian servicemen were also present at the plant 104 On 12 June President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said both sides were fighting for literally every metre Valerii Zaluzhnyi Ukrainian commander in chief claimed that artillery gave the Russians a tenfold advantage According to Leonid Pasechnik the head of the LPR Ukrainian forces were the ones shelling Sievierodonetsk from the Azot plant 105 Haidai said the defenders situation remains difficult Fighting continues but unfortunately most of the city is under Russian control Some positional battles are taking place in the streets As to claims about the Azot plant The story about the blockade of the Azot plant is a complete lie spread by Russian propagandists 106 Haidai also told Ukrainian TV that Ukrainian forces were failing at street fighting and that Russian artillery was winning the fighting in residential areas 107 On 13 June according to Governor Haidai the last of three bridges connecting Sievierodonetsk to the rest of Ukraine was destroyed Russian forces reportedly controlled 70 percent of the city Donetsk People s Republic DPR representative Eduard Basurin said to the media Ukrainian divisions that are there in Sievierodonetsk are there forever 108 The BBC reported that all three bridges that crossed the Donets river into the city had been destroyed 109 By 14 June 2022 Ukrainian sources acknowledged that Russia controlled 80 percent of the city and had cut off civilian evacuation routes 31 32 Ukraine rejects surrender ultimatum By 15 June much of Sievierodonetsk was largely in ruins and Russia had urged Ukrainian defenders to stop senseless resistance and lay down arms Russian authorities said it had opened a humanitarian corridor from the Azot plant towards Russian territory while accusing Ukraine of disrupting evacuation efforts Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said Russian forces were storming the city from several directions but insisted Ukrainian forces were not completely cut off and evacuation routes still existed 110 111 On 15 June the Russian ultimatum for Ukraine to surrender the city was ignored and clashes continued 110 111 On 16 June Ukrainian forces able to withdraw were reportedly ordered to withdraw towards Lysychansk 112 The Ukrainian General Staff claimed to retain several logistics routes to Sievierodonetsk despite the destruction of four bridges 113 The next day 17 June Russian media reported that Ukrainian military personnel had begun surrendering 114 Meanwhile the ISW observed that the battle had tied down Russian forces which could have been used elsewhere in the war stating that Russia had concentrated the vast majority of its available combat power to capture Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk at the expense of other axes of advance and is suffering heavy casualties to do so 115 On 18 June Governor Serhiy Haidai wrote on Telegram Now the most fierce battles are near Sievierodonetsk They Russia do not control the city entirely Our defenders are fighting Russians in all directions 116 Ukraine claimed to have deployed AHS Krab to provide artillery support for their forces in the city 117 The Ukrainians also claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on Russia s 11th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment forcing it to withdraw from the area of combat operations to restore combat capability 118 Ukrainian general staff said that as a result of artillery fire and an assault Russian forces had partial success in the village of Metiolkine and were trying to gain a foothold Haidai referred to tough battles in the village located southeast of the city TASS claimed that many Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered 119 On 19 June fresh Russian assaults forced Ukraine to commit reinforcements to the defence of Toshkivka located southeast of the city Tanks and Grad launchers were seen being deployed to reinforce the area with a tank crewman purportedly confirming their destination There were fears of a Russian pincer maneuver being used to entrap the Ukrainian forces in the Sievierodonetsk pocket as the pocket was about 75 closed by Russian forces The decision to hold onto Sievierodonetsk and continue fighting for the city was acknowledged by Ukrainian commanders as being risky due to the risk of Russian encirclement Former Ukrainian defence minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk said Right now the main objective is to use the window of opportunity that we have to completely exhaust the Russians in the Donbas If we would move they would move We would have to meet them somewhere It s not like Putin wanted just Sievierodonetsk They will keep going until they are stopped 120 Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said on 20 June that Ukraine still controlled more than one third of the city The same day Governor Haidai confirmed Ukraine had lost control of Metyolkine to Russian forces 121 and that most of Sievierodonetsk was under control of the Russian army while the Ukrainian military controlled only the industrial zone and the territory of the Azot plant He also said that the Lysychansk Bakhmut road had been shelled almost all day while under firm Russian fire control 122 On 21 June Haidai remarked on Russian forces saying they monitor the air day and night with drones adjusts firepower quickly adapts to our changes in defensive areas 123 On 22 June the Ukrainians said they had lost control of the settlements of Toshkivka Pidlisne uk and Myrna Dolyna south of Lysychansk 124 On 23 June Russian forces cut off and surrounded the towns of Hirske and Zolote which they claimed to have fully captured by the next day 125 126 Fall of Sievierodonetsk On 24 June Governor Haidai announced that Ukrainian forces were ordered to withdraw from the city stating Remaining in positions that have been relentlessly shelled for months just doesn t make sense They have received orders to retreat to new positions and from there continue their operations 127 CNN reported that amid continuing scorched earth tactics being applied by advancing Russian troops Ukraine s armed forces were ordered to evacuate the city leaving several hundred civilians seeking refuge in the Azot chemical plant which was compared to the civilian refugees left at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol a month prior in May 128 Concurrently Russian sources stated that Ukrainian forces had suffered over 1 000 casualties including 800 prisoners in Hirske Zolote and near Lysychansk over the previous two days 129 The withdrawal had been taking place over the previous several days 130 The Ukrainian retreat over the Donets river was conducted mostly at night and the locations of the crossings were constantly changed due to Russian shelling It is presumed no one was killed during the retreat 131 On 25 June Russian forces took full control of Sievierodonetsk 2 following the Ukrainian military s withdrawal 132 Approximately 10 000 civilians remained in the city ten percent of the pre war level 133 The nearby settlements of Syrotyne Voronove and Borivske were captured as well 3 At this time Hanna Maliar the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine publicly criticized civilians for allegedly disrupting military operations during the battle by sharing military information on social media 134 135 AftermathOleksiy Arestovych an advisor to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Ukrainian special forces remained behind in the city to direct artillery strikes According to TASS Ukrainian shelling prevented the evacuation of civilians from the Azot chemical plant hours after Ukrainian troops left There was no mention of the Ukrainian special forces engaging Russian soldiers directly 136 On 25 June Russian and LPR forces began encircling Lysychansk In late June early July the Associated Press interviewed Ukrainian soldiers that retreated from Sievierodonetsk some of whom called the battle hell on Earth and described the city as a burnt down desert The second in command of the Ukraine National Guard s Svoboda Battalion Lt Volodymyr Nazarenko said Russian tanks would destroy any potential defensive position during street engagements and that the city was methodically leveled out by daily shelling Another soldier from the battalion remarked those were not human conditions they fought in while also commending his comrades that held out before being ordered to withdraw saying the inner strength of our boys allowed them to hold the city until the last moment 137 On 8 July two weeks after Sievierodonetsk was captured Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai warned that living conditions in the city continued to deteriorate and the city was on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe as critical infrastructure and utilities such as water electricity and the sewage system remained inoperable while un recovered corpses decomposed in hot apartment buildings Haidai said the Russians were unable to repair anything and continued to accuse Russian forces of using scorched earth tactics during their offensive He added that 8 000 people remained in the city at this time 138 AnalysisThe Institute for the Study of War ISW judged on 28 May that the Russian military was directing a large part of its combat effective forces into the battle for Sievierodonetsk weakening other front lines and risking exhausting its remaining troops The ISW cautioned that the effort invested in the capture of Sievierodonetsk did not seem fitting for the location s limited strategic value 23 Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov believed this was the last offensive Russia was able to undertake before Western military aid reached Ukrainian forces 139 There were reports at the time that Ukrainian forces may be withdrawing to preserve their forces 140 On 4 June the British ministry of defence said a Ukrainian counterattack in Sievierodonetsk had successfully slowed Russian momentum 141 The ISW observed that Ukraine seemed to be maintaining a flexible defence of the city with an aim of inflicting Russian casualties rather than holding all of Sievierodonetsk Reportedly following an advance on 5 June that recaptured approximately half of the city Ukrainian forces pulled back after a Russian bombardment the next day 142 On 6 June Frederick Kagan said that Russian forces were crawling forward using massive artillery barrages to obliterate everything in its path allowing Russia s demoralized and frightened soldiers to advance 143 The Ukrainian chief of staff Valeriy Zaluzhny wrote on 12 June The Russians use artillery en masse and unfortunately they have a tenfold fire advantage Despite everything we keep holding our positions the situation is complicated in particular in the city of Sievierodonetsk Up to seven battalion tactical groups were deployed by the enemy there Despite the heavy fire we managed to stop the enemy 144 On 17 June Petro Kuzyk commander of the Ukrainian Svoboda Battalion which partook in the battle gave his analysis of the ongoing fighting in the city He claimed that Ukraine controlled 40 60 percent of the city however the lines were constantly shifting He complained of the supplies of Western weapons saying We need serious equipment and need more tanks At the moment we re getting equipment for infantry soldiers As a result we have to fight a guerrilla war Describing the Russian forces he said They have the tactic that if they see Ukrainians holding a position they do not attack or capture the buildings They just level them and that Russian tanks were hitting us from a distance of two kilometres and hiding behind buildings Kuzyk acknowledged the destruction of the three bridges linking to the city but said Ukrainians were now using boats ropes even swimming to cross the river He also expressed fear of a potential ecological catastrophe at the Azot chemical plant if an unpredictable explosion happens 145 The ISW wrote on 20 June that Russian forces were likely to capture Sievierodonetsk in the coming weeks but at the cost of concentrating most of their available forces in this small area 123 Serhiy Haidai stated on 23 June that Ukrainian troops may have to retreat to avoid encirclement in Lysychansk while the ISW continued to assess that the Ukrainians succeeded for weeks in drawing substantial quantities of Russian personnel weapons and equipment into the area and have likely degraded Russian forces overall capabilities while preventing Russian forces from focusing on more advantageous axes of advance Sievierodonetsk fell five days later 146 On 22 February 2023 Budanov described the defeat at Sievierodonetsk as one of the three major Ukrainian defeats during the Russo Ukrainian War the other two being the defeat at the battle of Volnovakha and the occupation of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by Russia in 2014 147 CasualtiesNumerous attacks against civilian facilities occurred in Sievierodonetsk On 17 March 2022 the Governor of Luhansk Oblast Serhiy Haidai reported that Russian forces had hit a shelter intended for mothers and children and declared that there are no safe places in Luhansk Region anymore 148 On 22 March Haidai said that the Russians had shelled a children s hospital and set the roof on fire although no one was wounded 149 Damage to local churches was also reported 150 On 7 April 2022 Russian forces reportedly struck a humanitarian aid center and set 10 high rise buildings on fire in the city 151 In Lysychansk 150 civilians killed in the city due to Russian strikes were reportedly buried in a mass grave on 25 May 152 On 27 May the mayor of Sievierodonetsk announced that more than 1 500 civilians had been killed since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022 153 By 30 May the shelling had become so intense that Ukrainian officials had stopped counting casualties 154 On 14 June Zelenskyy called for more foreign military aid calling the human cost of the battle for Sievierodonetsk Lysychansk and the surrounding region terrifying 155 On 8 July Ukraine s governor of Luhansk province Serhiy Haidai claimed that hundreds of Kadyrovites died during the battle for Sievierodonetsk but did not provide an exact number He also claimed one of the leaders of the Chechen division of Russia s National Guard was seriously wounded during clashes and may be on the verge of life and death 156 See alsoBattle of Lysychansk Battles of Sievierodonetsk 2014 List of military engagements during the 2022 Russian invasion of UkraineReferences a b c Andreikovets Kostia 5 June 2022 Russian General Kutuzov was killed in eastern Ukraine www babel ua Retrieved 5 June 2022 a b c Balmforth Tom Djurica Marko 25 June 2022 Sievierodonetsk falls to Russia after one of war s bloodiest fights Reuters Retrieved 25 June 2022 a b Rossijskie voennye zayavili o polnom kontrole 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have fallen to Russian forces CNN Russian troops control 70 percent of Severodonetsk Luhansk governor aljazeera com 31 May 2022 Retrieved 1 June 2022 Russian bombing of chemical plant madness Zelensky BBC com 1 June 2022 Archived from the original on 1 June 2022 Retrieved 1 June 2022 Children among 800 people hiding below Sievierodonetsk factory the Guardian 2 June 2022 About 800 people hiding in bomb shelters under Azot plant in Sievierodonetsk www ukrinform net Ukraine Live Updates Russia Inches Toward Seizing Key Eastern City The New York Times 1 June 2022 Retrieved 1 June 2022 Russian forces have reached the city s core Serhiy Haidai the Ukrainian head of the regional military administration wrote on Telegram early Wednesday Ukrainian official says about 80 of Severodonetsk is occupied by Russian forces CNN 1 June 2022 Retrieved 2 June 2022 Russia controls most of Severodonetsk but has sustained heavy losses British MoD euroweeklynews 2 June 2022 Retrieved 2 June 2022 Ukraine has retaken about 20 of territory lost in Sievierodonetsk regional head 3 June 2022 Ukraine counterattack recaptures parts of Sievierodonetsk in Donbas TheGuardian com 4 June 2022 Russians throwing all their reserves at Severodonetsk BBC com 3 June 2022 Retrieved 4 June 2022 Live Kyiv says it has regained ground in Sievierodonetsk France24 com 4 June 2022 Retrieved 4 June 2022 It s a war for Georgians as well Foreign fighters in Severodonetsk BBC 3 June 2022 Retrieved 4 June 2022 2 journalists injured and driver killed near Severodonetsk CNN com 3 June 2022 Retrieved 4 June 2022 Ukrainian official says Russian general given until June 10 to capture Severodonetsk or key highway CNN com 5 June 2022 Retrieved 5 June 2022 Ukrainian counterattacks in Severodonetsk are likely blunting Russian momentum UK Ministry of Defense CNN com 5 June 2022 Retrieved 5 June 2022 First Russian strikes on Kyiv in weeks among key developments from this weekend CNN com 6 June 2022 Retrieved 6 June 2022 War hottest around Severodonetsk military intelligence chief BBC com 6 June 2022 Retrieved 6 June 2022 Ukraine forces holding positions in Sievierodonetsk live updates DW com 6 June 2022 Retrieved 7 June 2022 It s like a horrifying version of Counter Strike battalion commander on battles in Sievierodonetsk Ukrainska Pravda 6 June 2022 Retrieved 10 July 2022 Ukraine says it is holding off Russian assault in key eastern city reuters com 8 June 2022 Retrieved 8 June 2022 Ukraine gives update on fighting in the east BBC com 8 June 2022 Retrieved 8 June 2022 Ukraine could pull back to more fortified positions in Severodonetsk says official CNN com 8 June 2022 Retrieved 8 June 2022 Russia Ukraine war what we know on day 105 of the invasion The Guardian com 8 June 2022 Retrieved 8 June 2022 Russia Ukraine war Russian bombardment of Sievierodonetsk pushes Ukrainian troops back to city s outskirts live The Guardian 8 June 2022 Most of Severodonetsk is under Russian control Ukrainian official says CNN com 8 June 2022 Retrieved 9 June 2022 Hundreds of civilians holed up at Severodonetsk chemical factory lawyer says The Washington Post com 8 June 2022 Retrieved 8 June 2022 Russian bombardment of Sievierodonetsk pushes Ukrainian troops back to city s outskirts as it happened TheGuardian com 8 June 2022 Retrieved 9 June 2022 Russian bombardment of Sievierodonetsk pushes Ukrainian troops back to city s outskirts as it happened BBC com 9 June 2022 Retrieved 9 June 2022 Ukraine says troops holding on to Sievierodonetsk advance in south Reuters com 9 June 2022 Retrieved 9 June 2022 Russia Ukraine war intense street fighting in Sievierodonetsk Zelenskiy didn t want to hear Russia warning says Biden live theguardian com 11 June 2022 Retrieved 11 June 2022 Posol LNR s boevikami na Azote v Severodonecke idut peregovory o vyhode mirnyh grazhdan in Russian 11 June 2022 Ukrainian Russian forces fight for every metre in Severodonetsk economictimes indiatimes com 12 June 2022 Retrieved 12 June 2022 Severodonetsk the epicentre of the battle for Ukraine s eastern Donbas region 9news com au 12 June 2022 Retrieved 12 June 2022 Ukraine war Chemical plant hit as fighting rages in Severodonetsk BBC com 12 June 2022 Retrieved 12 June 2022 Leo Sand 13 June 2022 Ukraine war Every bridge leading to key city Severodonetsk destroyed BBC com Retrieved 14 June 2022 As it happened Human cost of eastern city battle simply terrifying Zelensky BBC News Retrieved 13 June 2022 a b Ukraine ignores Russian ultimatum to surrender Sievierodonetsk Ukraine The Guardian amp theguardian com Retrieved 16 June 2022 a b Polityuk Pavel Boumzar Abdelaziz 15 June 2022 Ukraine ignores Sievierodonetsk ultimatum urges faster arms deliveries Reuters Retrieved 17 June 2022 Gibbons Neff Thomas Yermak Natalia 16 June 2022 On the edge of embattled twin cities an uncovered mass grave for civilians grows New York Times Retrieved 16 June 2022 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment June 16 ISW 16 June 2022 Retrieved 17 June 2022 V LNR soobshili o sdache v plen chasti voennosluzhashih VSU na Azote tass ru Retrieved 17 June 2022 RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT JUNE 17 aljazeera co 17 June 2022 Retrieved 18 June 2022 V Fierce battles outside Ukraine s Severodonetsk Governor aljazeera co 18 June 2022 Retrieved 18 June 2022 155mm Krab SPH is game changer in Severodonetsk says Ukraine bulgarianmilitary com 18 June 2022 Retrieved 18 June 2022 Lister Tim 21 June 2022 Two months on Russia is still struggling to capture this small Ukrainian city cnn com Retrieved 21 June 2022 NATO Warns of Long Ukraine War as Russian Assaults Follow EU Boost for Kyiv voanews com 19 June 2022 Retrieved 19 June 2022 Ukraine rushes troops to reinforce its faltering defense of Sievierodonetsk vnytimes com 19 June 2022 Retrieved 20 June 2022 Ukraine says lost control of Sievierodonetsk village straitstimes com 20 June 2022 Retrieved 20 June 2022 Luhansk military head Russian army has enough firepower to launch a large scale offensive on Severodonetsk cnn com 20 June 2022 Retrieved 21 June 2022 a b Lister Tim 20 June 2022 Two months on Russia is still struggling to capture this small Ukrainian city cnn com Retrieved 21 June 2022 Russian forces capture several more settlements in Ukraine s Luhansk region Reuters 22 June 2022 Retrieved 23 June 2022 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment June 23 Russia Has Potential Plan To Smash Ukrainian Stronghold In Luhansk Region Severodonetsk Ukrainian forces told to retreat from key eastern city BBC 24 June 2022 Retrieved 24 June 2022 Berlinger Joshua Lister Tim 24 June 2022 Ukraine to withdraw from key city of Severodonetsk as Russia s advance grinds on CNN Voennaya operaciya na Ukraine Hronika sobytij 24 iyunya 2022 goda TASS tass ru Retrieved 26 June 2022 National Guards give reasons for their withdrawal from Sievierodonetsk news yahoo com Retrieved 26 June 2022 How Ukrainian defenders left Sievierodonetsk in boats under cover of night Mayor Says Ukrainian Troops Have Almost Left Sievierodonetsk Ponomarenko Illia 30 June 2022 As Ukraine withdraws from Sievierodonetsk Battle of Donbas enters next phase Kyiv Independent Retrieved 2 July 2022 Rossijskie voennye zayavili o polnom kontrole nad Severodoneckom Radio Free Europe in Russian 26 June 2022 Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar criticized the media that reported on the withdrawal of troops Public demonstration by civilians of awareness of the course of military operations and reporting this on social networks partly disrupts military operations as was the case yesterday and the day before yesterday in Severodonetsk When they simply did not allow the Armed Forces to finalize what was planned Malyar quotes the BBC Premature unofficial reports in social media hinder Ukrainian army from finishing tasks in Severodonetsk Interfax Ukraine 25 June 2022 Djurica Tom Balmforth Marko 26 June 2022 Ukraine suffers major setback after fall of Sievierodonetsk Reuters Retrieved 26 June 2022 Hell on earth Ukrainian soldiers describe eastern front Associated Press 4 July 2022 Retrieved 10 July 2020 Severodonetsk on the verge of humanitarian catastrophe Ukrainian official warns CBC 8 July 2022 Russians Ukrainians fight block by block in eastern city Associated Press 31 May 2022 Archived from the original on 31 May 2022 Retrieved 31 May 2022 Ukrainian forces withdrawing from key city in Donbas mostly under Russian control The Denver Gazette 31 May 2022 Archived from the original on 1 June 2022 Retrieved 1 June 2022 Ukrainian counterattacks in Severodonetsk are likely blunting Russian momentum UK Ministry of Defense CNN 4 June 2022 Retrieved 5 June 2022 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment June 8 8 June 2022 Retrieved 9 June 2022 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link Kagan Frederick 7 June 2022 Op ed The New Russian Offensive Is Intended to Project Power It Cannot Sustain The Institute for the Study of War ISW Retrieved 8 June 2022 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link Ukraine army chief has requested more 155mm artillery from the United States 13 June 2022 Retrieved 13 June 2022 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link Sparks John 17 June 2022 Ukraine war We need serious equipment and more tanks says commander defending Severodonetsk Sky News Retrieved 18 June 2022 Hird Karolina Stepanenko Kateryna Clark Mason Mappes Grace 23 June 2022 RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT JUNE 23 ISW Retrieved 23 June 2022 Odna z najbilshih porazok ukrayinciv ce proriv rosiyan v rajoni Volnovahi GUR Volnovakha City in Ukrainian 22 February 2023 Russian invaders fire on shelter for mothers and children in Sievierodonetsk Ukrinform 17 March 2022 Archived from the original on 17 March 2022 Retrieved 7 May 2022 Rosijski okupanti obstrilyali dityachu likarnyu v Syevyerodonecku ditej ta personal vdalosya vryatuvati Vilne Radio in Ukrainian 22 March 2022 Archived from the original on 24 March 2022 Retrieved 7 May 2022 When Christians are bombing Christian churches PHOTOS Orthodox Times 30 March 2022 Archived from the original on 31 March 2022 Retrieved 10 April 2022 Bullen Lee News Zenger 7 April 2022 Ukrainians blast Russian armor with U K missile system Newsweek Archived from the original on 7 April 2022 Retrieved 8 April 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a last2 has generic name help Beaumont Peter 26 May 2022 Ukrainians burying civilians in mass graves as Russia advances the Guardian Archived from the original on 28 May 2022 Retrieved 26 May 2022 Ukraine live At least 1 500 dead in city of Sievierodonetsk euronews 27 May 2022 Archived from the original on 27 May 2022 Retrieved 27 May 2022 Sommerville Quentin 30 May 2022 I watched from afar Russia s latest merciless assault on Severodonetsk BBC Archived from the original on 31 May 2022 Retrieved 1 June 2022 Ukraine s Zelenski Pleads For Arms As Russia Lays Siege To Severodonetsk NDTV 14 June 2022 Largest number of Kadyrovites killed in Severodonetsk says local governor Yahoo News 8 July 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Sievierodonetsk 2022 amp oldid 1141786076, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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