Jump to content

Battle of Donbas (2022)

Extended-protected article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Battle of Dovhenke)
For the larger eastern campaign, see Eastern Ukraine campaign. For other uses, see Battle of Donbas.

Battle of Donbas
Part of the eastern Ukraine campaign of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Military situation as of 3 August 2022: pink highlights areas held by Russia and its proxies, yellow highlights areas held by the Ukrainian government.
Date18 April 2022 – September 2022
Location
Donbas, Ukraine
Result Inconclusive
Territorial
changes		 Russia and separatist forces capture the cities of Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Svitlodarsk,[1] Lyman,[2] Sviatohirsk,[3] all remaining Luhansk Oblast cities, and many villages.[4][5]
Belligerents
 Russia
Donetsk People's Republic
Luhansk People's Republic		  Ukraine
Units involved
See order of battle See order of battle
Strength
55,000–70,000 (total number of troops in Ukraine, mid-April) 40,000–50,000 (in Donbas, mid-April)
Casualties and losses
~5,154+ civilians killed, 5,605+ wounded
Reports vary widely. See Casualties for more details.

The battle of Donbas[6][7] was a military offensive that was part of the wider eastern Ukraine campaign of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The offensive began on 18 April 2022 between the armed forces of Russia and Ukraine for control of the Donbas region.[8][9][10] Military analysts consider the campaign to have been the second strategic phase of the invasion, after Russia's initial three-pronged attack into Ukraine.[11][12]

Russia's strategy in the sector was to encircle Ukrainian troops in the Donbas and to annex the entire Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts to the Russian-backed separatist states of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).[13][14] Russia claimed to have controlled 55% of Donetsk Oblast by 23 June 2022[15][16][17] and all of Luhansk Oblast by 3 July 2022,[18] with Russian and separatist forces controlling the cities of Mariupol,[19] Sievierodonetsk,[20] Lysychansk,[21] Rubizhne,[22] and many others.

The Russian offensive stalled in September 2022 and some of the gains were reversed after Ukraine launched its Kharkiv offensive, with Ukrainian forces recapturing the cities of Lyman and Sviatohirsk in the Donetsk region and Bilohorivka in Luhansk oblast.[23] The Ukrainian counteroffensive also stalled east of the Oskil river, and by November 2022 Russian assaults renewed in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.

Background

War in Donbas

Main article: War in Donbas (2014–2022)

Since 2014, the Donbas region had been the site of protracted fighting between Russian-backed separatists from the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics and the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the war in Donbas. Between 2014 and late 2021, the war had taken the lives of more than 10,000 combatants (including Ukrainian soldiers, Russian soldiers, and separatist combatants), as well as 3,095 civilians.[24]

Prior operations

Main article: Eastern Ukraine campaign § Initial Russian attacks (February–March 2022)
Ukrainian soldiers guard a military base in Novoluhanske, 19 February 2022

In February 2022, mass evacuations and general mobilization began in the DPR and LPR quasi-states following aggravations along the "line of contact", the front line which had more or less remained static since 2014.[25][26] On 21 February 2022, Russia officially recognized the DPR and LPR as sovereign states.[27]

On 24 February 2022, the Russian Armed Forces and the DPR and LPR launched a full-scale invasion of Ukrainian territory across numerous fronts, including in the Donbas. North of the Donbas, Russian and loyalist forces began fighting in the battle of Kharkiv, as well as numerous other smaller battles aimed at capturing key Ukrainian cities and towns. In southern Donbas, the siege of Mariupol began, which would eventually kill over 25,000 civilians and destroy 95% of the city.[28]

On 25 March, Russian officials declared that the first phase of the "special military operation" in Ukraine was complete. On 29 March 2022, they declared that they intended to scale back their military operations in the region around the capital city of Kyiv. This effectively ended Russian operations in northern Ukraine.[29] Russian military officials declared that the Ukrainian Navy and Air Force had been neutralized. They also stated that the DPR and LPR controlled 54% and 93% of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, respectively.[15][30] The tactical withdrawal of Russian forces from the north was completed by 6 April 2022.[31][32] As Ukrainian forces regained previously occupied territory, evidence of Russian war crimes — including the Bucha massacre — were discovered.

Russian forces captured Izium, a strategic city in eastern Kharkiv Oblast, on 1 April.[33][34][35][36] After taking Izium, Russian troops then advanced south towards Kamianka, Izium Raion [uk], which lies on the road to the strategically positioned city of Sloviansk. On 6 April, an Izium government official told CNN that intercepted radio communications revealed Russian plans "to capture the Donetsk region from the north". The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) predicted that "efforts by Russian forces advancing south from Izium to capture Sloviansk" would become "the next pivotal battle of the war in Ukraine", with the 1st Guards Tank Army having been redeployed to this direction from the Kharkiv and Sumy fronts.[37]

Prelude

In mid-April 2022, U.S. intelligence reported that Russia was "repositioning" its military units to the Donbas. Russian units from northern Ukraine battlefronts in Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and elsewhere were noted by Maxar satellite imagery to be relocating to the Donbas region, while reinforcements from regions in Belarus and Russia supplemented these units.[38] By 13 April, military analysts expected Russia to imminently launch a "battle for Donbas" as new reinforcements arrived from Russia, Belarus, and northern Ukraine.[39]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged the beginning of a new offensive in Donbas, claiming it to be a "very important moment in this entire special operation."[40] To address the new stage of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron and US president Joe Biden held a meeting with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Poland, and Romania. They were joined by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.[41]

Russian objectives

On 22 April 2022, a commander of Russia's Central Military District, Rustam Minnekayev, declared that the aim of the "second phase" of the country's invasion of Ukraine was to fully seize Donbas and Southern Ukraine and to establish a land corridor with Transnistria, a Russian-occupied, internationally unrecognized breakaway republic that is internationally recognized as part of Moldova. He alleged that there was "evidence that the Russian-speaking population is being oppressed" in Transnistria.[42][43] The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine replied to this announcement by describing Russia's intentions as imperialism, saying that it contradicted previous Russian claims that assured that Russia did not have territorial ambitions over Ukraine and that Russia had admitted that "the goal of the 'second phase' of the war is not victory over the mythical Nazis, but simply the occupation of eastern and southern Ukraine".[42][44]

In mid-April 2022, Western defense and intelligence officials told Financial Times that Russia's main targets were the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, described as holding the key to control over Donbas. The Russian military was expected to advance on these cities from three directions: south from Izium, west from Sievierodonetsk, and north from the city of Donetsk.[45]

On 30 June 2022, ISW assessed that despite Russia's concentration in the east, they still had territorial ambitions beyond Luhansk and Donetsk Oblast.[46] According to Russian sources, the official representative of the LPR forces, Andrey Marochko, stated on 3 July 2022 that in order to secure the LPR land, their, DPR and Russian forces must push the Ukrainian forces away from the LPR's borders for no less than 300 kilometers.[47] The 300 km claim would mean the full Kharkiv Oblast and Donetsk region, parts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Sumy Oblast and Poltava Oblast. Russian sources said that the LPR's ambassador in Russia, Rodion Miroshnik [ru], confirmed on 4 July 2022 that LPR troops would continue to participate in the Donbas offensive, saying the presence of Ukrainian units along the LPR's borders would threaten security.[48]

Opposing forces and foreign involvement

For broader coverage of this topic, see Order of battle for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
See also: Combatants of the war in Donbas and Foreign involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russian and pro-Russian forces

Further information: Russian people's militias in Ukraine, Wagner Group activities in Ukraine, and Chechen involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Chechen Kadyrovites in the Donbas in June 2022

On 18 April, a U.S. Department of Defense official said Russia had deployed an additional 11 battalion tactical groups (BTGs) days before launching the offensive, resulting in a total of 76 BTGs operating in both Donbas and southeastern Ukraine. An estimated 12 BTGs were engaged in the siege of Mariupol.[49] According to The Guardian, the 76 battalion tactical groups constituted approximately 60,000 soldiers, which was about three-fourths of the manpower of the invasion force.[50] However, the Ukrainian General Staff said on the same day that there were 87 Russian BTGs across Ukraine with a total of 70,000 soldiers.[51]

A senior U.S. defense official said that two more Russian battalion tactical groups were deployed between 18 and 19 April, for a total of 78 BTGs across southern and eastern Ukraine. AP News estimated that Russia had 55,000–62,000 troops in Ukraine, based on an earlier Pentagon statement that the typical size of a BTG was 700-800 soldiers.[52]

Western media, citing European officials, reported that 10,000–20,000 Libyan, Syrian, and Wagner Group mercenaries were deployed for the offensive in the Donbas.[50][53][52]

British military expert Frank Ledwidge wrote on 12 April that Russian forces were "nowhere near" the three-to-one ratio that attacking forces should number over their opponents, according to what he called "one of the firmest rules of warfare."[54] However, Russian forces achieved a three-to-one numerical superiority over their Ukrainian counterparts by 25 April, according to the BBC and the Financial Times, citing Western experts.[55][45]

Ukrainian forces

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy greets soldiers of the 24th Mechanized Brigade in the Donbas on 5 June 2022

Before the February invasion, 40,000 Ukrainian troops were stationed in the Donbas. Financial Times called those forces, veterans of the Joint Forces Operation, "some of Ukraine's best trained and most battle-hardened soldiers".[45]

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 14 April that Ukrainian forces numbered 44,000 in the Donbas region.[56][51] On 19 April, the BBC reported that Ukrainian troops in the Donbas numbered 40,000–50,000 men.[57]

Foreign support for Ukraine

Further information: List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War

The Ukrainians continued a campaign of targeting Russian ammunition depots and logistics sites in Donetsk province with air strikes and, reportedly, U.S.-supplied M142 HIMARS or M270 rocket artillery systems. Video emerged of an apparent ammunition depot in Snizhne, Donetsk Oblast exploding, with pro-Ukrainian sources suggesting Ukrainian forces used M142 HIMARS supplied by the U.S. to attack the depot deep behind Russian-DPR front lines.[58][59] Oleksiy Arestovych, a Ukrainian presidential advisor, claimed that continued attacks on Russian ammunition depots and increased Ukrainian artillery supplies from NATO countries were forcing the Russians to conserve artillery shells and rockets for the first time. He argued that if this trend continued, the Ukrainians would, eventually, achieve artillery and logistical superiority on the battlefield in the Donbas.[60] President Zelenskyy, in his nightly public address, also hailed the impact Western-supplied artillery pieces were reportedly having on Russian logistics and strike capabilities.[61] In late July 2022, Ukrainian soldiers and officers fighting in Donetsk offered anecdotal evidence of a significant reduction in Russian artillery fire.

The Mozart Group, a group of former Western soldiers serving as volunteers in Ukraine, was evacuating civilians and offering informal combat training to Ukrainian troops, primarily on casualty care and medical evacuation.[62]

Battle

Early operations (April–May 2022)

Russian tanks in the Donbas after crossing the Siverskyi Donets with pontoon bridges, April 2022

On the night of 18 April 2022, Russian forces launched an intensive bombardment campaign against positions in Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kharkiv Oblasts.[63] Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the "battle for Donbas" had begun.[64] Russian artillery pounded cities in the Donbas, aiming at destroying critical infrastructure.[65]

On 18 April, in the Slobozhansky and Donetsk operational districts, Russian troops intensified offensive operations in some areas, attempting to break through the Ukrainian defenses along almost the entire front line in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.[66] The head of the Luhansk regional military administration and effective governor of the oblast, Serhiy Haidai, called on the region's residents to evacuate immediately so as to not become hostages or be killed by the Russians.[67]

Popasna

See also: Battle of Popasna

Large areas of Popasna were occupied during the first week of the battle of Donbas.[68][69] On 20 April, Libyan and Syrian mercenaries likely associated with the Wagner Group allegedly clashed with Ukrainian forces in Popasna. The Ukrainian government claimed that 20–25 mercenaries had been killed.[69]

In late April, Russian forces were said to be preparing to capture Popasna and advance past it.[70][5] By 7 May, the now largely destroyed city of Popasna was captured by Russian and Luhansk People's Republic forces, with this being confirmed by the regional governor.[71][72]

Donetsk Oblast

See also: Battle of Marinka (2022–2023) § Initial Russian assaults

In the first week of the battle of Donbas, a Ukrainian official claimed that Russian forces captured 42 villages in the Donetsk Oblast, though she did not specify which villages had been captured.[4] Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government stated their forces launched a counterattack and recaptured the town of Marinka.[73] Russian shelling overnight in Donetsk Oblast on 20 April killed two civilians and wounded nine, according to online news sources.[74] Lozove, Kramatorsk Raion [uk], in northern Donetsk Oblast was captured by Russian and LPR forces on 23 April,[70] followed by Yatskivka and Rubtsi [uk] on 26 April,[75] and Zarichne on 27 April.[5]

Between 22 April and 29 April, 110 DPR servicemen were killed and 451 were injured.[76] On 24 May, Russian forces intensified artillery strikes against Avdiivka and took advantage of their previous capture of Novoselivka to advance on Avdiivka and gain highway access toward Sloviansk.[77]

Luhansk Oblast

See also: Battle of Rubizhne

Kreminna was captured by Russian and separatist forces overnight between 17 and 18 April, becoming the first city to fall since the beginning of the offensive.[78][79] Ukrainian officials reported on 25 April that Russian forces were killed in a gas explosion in the Russian-occupied Kreminna City Hall.[80]

On 24 April, Russian and LPR forces seized the small towns of Popivka, Pishchane, and Zhytlivka northwest of Sievierodonetsk, establishing a bridgehead over the Krasna River, though ISW assessed that Russian troops in the region remained unlikely to be able to launch large offensive operations.[70] South of the Seversky Donets river, the Ukrainian military announced that Novotoshkivske fell on 27 April.[5]

Destroyed Russian pontoon bridge and vehicles near Bilohorivka during the battle of the Siverskyi Donets.

Russian forces advanced in Rubizhne between 19 and 20 April.[69] In late April, ISW said that Russian forces were pushing to encircle and fully capture Rubizhne,[5][75] which fell on 12 May.[81]

From 5–13 May, a major battle on the Donets river took place, with Ukrainian defenders successfully repelling multiple Russian attempts to cross the river.[82] The Ukrainian armed forces claimed to have destroyed an entire battalion of Russian forces, killing up to 1,000–1,500 soldiers.[83] The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank reported that out of a force of 550 Russian troops, 485 were killed and wounded, as well as 80 vehicles lost.[84]

According to Ukrainian sources, the Russian military had allegedly planned to capture the entire Luhansk Oblast by 9 May.[85]

Izium–Sloviansk front

Russian forces on the Izium front were reinforced in late April, amid continued attacks toward Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Barvinkove.[70][5] Russian sources identified Dovhenke as the last Ukrainian-held settlement on the Sloviansk front before the Kharkiv–Donetsk Oblast border. ISW assessed that the Russian advances from Izium were intended to merge with offensives from territory held by the Donetsk People's Republic.[75]

Kharkiv Oblast governor Oleh Syniehubov claimed the Ukrainian military launched a counterattack against Russian forces near Izium on 14 May.[86][87] On the same day, however, pro-Russian Telegram channels claimed that Russian forces entered Dovhenke, but the ISW assessed that they were unable to secure the settlement due to heavy fighting, and suggested that a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the region had yet to begin.[88]

By 15 May, ISW noted that Russian forces had likely been scaling down their operations from Izium toward Sloviansk, which they characterized as "slow" and "unsuccessful".[88]

President Zelenskyy with the 24th Mechanized Brigade near the front line in the Donbas on 5 June 2022

Capture of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, attempted advance on Sloviansk (May–July 2022)

By 15 May, the Institute for the Study of War assessed that Russian military command had likely abandoned its "more ambitious" goal of seizing the Donetsk Oblast through a large encirclement, predicting that the battle of Sievierodonetsk and the capture of Luhansk Oblast would be prioritized going forward.[88]

By late May, Russian forces had broken through in many regions across the front line. Russian troops were seen to be using a new "cauldron" approach to their efforts, abandoning large encirclements in favor of smaller ones, which enabled them to make the first major gains of the battle.[89]

Capture of Lyman and Sviatohirsk

Pro-Russian separatist officials announced that their forces had begun an assault on Lyman on 24 May;[90] they captured the city by the 26th[91][92] or 27th.[93][94][95][96] Ukrainian forces were also reported to have been leaving Sviatohirsk,[97] the last Ukrainian-controlled city north of the Donets river, which fell to Russian and separatist forces by 8 June.[98][99]

Izium–Sloviansk front

According to the Ukrainian News Agency, Ukrainian soldiers repelled a new assault on Dovhenke on 6 June.[100][101] On 7 June, combined Russian and LPR forces launched an offensive through the forests south of Izium towards the city of Sloviansk, but were stopped at Bohorodychne and Krasnopillia.[33][failed verification]

The Ukrainian military frequently reported combat in the areas of Dovhenke, Mazanivka, Krasnopillia, Dolyna, and Bohorodychne throughout June.[102][103][104][105][106][107][108] By capturing Bohorodychne and Krasnopillia, Russian and separatist forces would be able to push southwards to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, two of the last major Ukrainian-held cities in Donetsk Oblast.[109][110]

Popasna–Bakhmut front

On 20 May, Russian forces made further advances in the west and south of Popasna, with the aim of cutting off the road to Sievierodonetsk.[111][112] Despite stiff Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces finally broke through in the Popasna area on 20 May.[113] By 22 May, Russian forces managed to secure their route of advance and attempted to simultaneously push west towards Bakhmut and north to cut off-road links to Sievierodonetsk.[114] By 24 May, Russian forces captured the town of Svitlodarsk.[115]

Sievierodonetsk front

On 1 June, Ukraine announced that 70–80% of Sieverodonetsk had been captured by Russian forces.[116] On 3 June, Ukraine claimed to have launched a counterattack to take back 20% of the city.[117] On 8 June, however, the Ukrainian Army was pushed back to the outskirts of the city.[118]

With the breakthrough west of Popasna significantly slowed by Ukrainian heavy guns,[119] Russia began an offensive to the northeast of Popasna, aiming to bypass the Siverskyi Donets river and bombard Lysychansk from the south.[120] The ISW assessed that Russian commanders had been given the deadline of 26 June to make a breakthrough and seize Luhansk Oblast's full administrative territory.[120]

Fall of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk

See also: Battle of Toshkivka, Battle of Sievierodonetsk (2022), and Battle of Lysychansk
Pro-Russian separatist troops advance towards Lysychansk, June 2022
Fire at the Toretska coal mine in Toretsk after Russian shelling on 27 June 2022

The Russian military began breaking through in the south by 21 June, seizing Toshkivka[121] and capturing Loskutivka [uk], Myrna Dolyna, Rai-Oleksandrivka [uk] and Pidlisne [uk] all on 22 June.[122][123] On 23 June, Russian forces cut off and surrounded the towns of Hirske and Zolote, which they claimed to have fully captured by next day.[124][125] In addition, Russia made a push to fully secure the Azot chemical plant in Sievierodonetsk, which by 14 June had become the last refuge for Ukrainian soldiers in the city.[126] Russian troops were less successful on the northern axis, attempting to make breakthroughs near Mykolaivka and Bohorodychne, in an attempt to advance on the Donetsk city of Sloviansk.[127][128] Nonetheless, the Russian advance ground on, with Russia's breakthrough in the south putting pressure on the few remaining Ukrainian defenders of Luhansk Oblast to withdraw to defensive lines near the border with Donetsk Oblast.[129]

Russian forces had fully encircled Hirske and Zolote in their drive north to Lysychansk by 24 June.[130] Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces had suffered over 1,000 casualties, including 800 prisoners, in Hirske, Zolote and near Lysychansk over the previous two days.[131] Also on 24 June, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar claimed that the Russians were firing 60,000 shells per day, 10 times more than the Ukrainians.[132] By 25 June, Ukrainian officials had announced that their troops had retreated from Sievierodonetsk in order to avoid being surrounded by Russian troops, signalling the city's capture.[133][134][135] By 1 July, Russian forces continued encircling Lysychansk from the south and west, attempting to cut off the T1302 Lysychansk-Bakhmut highway from the city. As part of the encirclement, Russian forces claimed to have also seized Pryvillia, northwest of Lysychansk, after units made river crossings to the north and west of the town. Ukrainian positions near Siversk, Bilohorivka, Vovchoyarivka, Berestove, Yakovlivka, Vidrodzhennia, Mayorsk, and the Vuhlehirska thermal power plant were shelled by artillery.[136][137]

On 2–3 July, Russia and LPR separatist forces claimed to have captured and controlled Lysychansk, however Ukrainian officials, including president Volodymyr Zelenskyy,[138] had yet to officially acknowledge the strategic city's capture, only saying there were ongoing fierce clashes for the city.[139] The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) supported the Russian claim that Lysychansk had fallen on 2 July, suggesting the Ukrainian defenders likely "deliberately withdrew" from the city.[21] Furthermore, the Russian defence ministry claimed to have captured and were in the process of clearing many settlements on the Lysychansk outskirts, including Verkhniokamianka, Zolotarivka, Bilohorivka, Novodruzhesk, Maloriazantseve, and Bila Hora.[140][141] Ukrainian officials subsequently conceded that Lysychansk was captured.

With the fall of Lysychansk and its western outskirts, Russia and the Luhansk People's Republic declared full control of Luhansk Oblast for the first time, achieving an objective of the Russian-led campaign.[142] Russian shelling of Sloviansk intensified on 3 July.[143]

Russian operational pause (4–16 July 2022)

Unexploded Russian rocket in Oleksandrivka on 6 July 2022
Aftermath of Russian shelling on Metallurg stadium in Bakhmut on 11 July 2022

After fully capturing and occupying Luhansk Oblast, Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered defence minister Sergei Shoigu to continue the offensive in Donbas as planned, adding that units that fought on the Luhansk front "should certainly rest and increase their combat capabilities."[144] According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces made no claimed or assessed territorial gains "for the first time in 133 days of war" and suggested that Russia was likely taking an "operational pause" to rest and regroup its forces before a planned renewed assault.[145] The UK defence ministry expected the city of Siversk to be the immediate tactical objective of their renewed assault.[146][147] By 14 July, Haidai said that Russian forces were trying to take Siversk in order to eventually advance on Bakhmut.[148]

An intelligence briefing by the UK defence ministry on 4 July said Russian forces would "almost certainly" transition to capturing the rest of Donetsk Oblast, around 55 percent of which was already in control by Russian and Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) separatist forces. The ministry predicted the fighting in Donetsk would continue to be "grinding and attritional," typified by massive artillery shelling leveling towns and cities amid slow ground advances. Ukraine's governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai said he expected Donetsk cities such as Sloviansk and Bakhmut to soon come under heavy Russian attack, and said both cities were increasingly being shelled. Similar to UK intelligence reports, the Ukrainians expected the Russians to push west along the Bakhmut-Lysychansk highway.[149][150][151] On 5 July, the mayor of Sloviansk, Vadym Liakh [uk; ru], urged residents to evacuate the city. "The nearest Russian positions are 7–10 km from the city," said Liakh.[152] The governor of Donetsk Oblast, Pavlo Kyrylenko, urged the 350,000 remaining residents to evacuate the province.[153] All civilians remaining in the unoccupied parts of Donetsk region were later ordered to evacuate by Zelenskyy on 30 July. According to Ukrainian estimates, 200,000–220,000 civilians still lived there at the time.[154]

Haidai claimed that an attempt by Russian regular and reserve troops to expand a bridgehead on the Donets river had been stalled by a Ukrainian artillery attack.[60][155] Pro-Russian sources claimed the village of Spirne had been captured and advances were made during renewed ground assaults on the northern Donetsk village of Verkhnokamyansk; the claims were not independently confirmed at the time. Reportedly, both Russian and Ukrainian sources confirmed that Ukrainian forces had recaptured the village of Solodke in a limited counterattack.[60] A separatist official claimed that Russian forces captured the village of Hryhorivka on 9 July.[156]

On 11 July, President Zelenskyy dismissed the notion that there was an ongoing "operational pause" by the Russians, citing continued deadly shelling, air strikes, and continued reports of Ukrainian troops "repelling" various Russian assaults. Zelenskyy insisted that 34 Russian airstrikes in the past 24 hours were not indicative of an "operational pause".[157]

British intelligence assessed that the Russian army's next focus would be small towns on the approach to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, two cities which it said remained main Russian targets. The Ukrainian General Staff similarly expected future Russian assaults with the aim of creating more favorable conditions for an offensive from Izium to Sloviansk.[158] Sloviansk was both geographically strategic and symbolically significant for its role in the earlier war in Donbas.[159]

Amid small-scale Russian ground assaults near Sloviansk, Siversk, and Bakhmut on 15 July, ISW suggested that Russian forces were emerging from their operational pause.[160] The next day, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the operational pause had effectively finished.[161]

Renewed assaults in Donetsk Oblast (17 July–6 September 2022)

Chechen Kadyrovite troops in the Donbas, July 2022

By 17 July, Russian forces were in control of about 55% of Donetsk Oblast.[162] Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Deputy Minister of Information Daniil Bezsonov stated on 25 July that the DPR expected to capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast by the end of August. Various Russian and Western sources had previously reported that Russia intended to hold referendums in occupied areas by the first half of September, likely sometime around 11 September, which is the unified voting day in the Russian Federation.[163]

According to ISW, Russian forces had yet to make any meaningful forward progress by 20 July. Efforts to advance on Sloviansk had "mostly ground to a halt", with no significant Russian advances in weeks. Russian troops had yet to reach Siversk despite trying to capture it since taking Lysychansk, and were said to be degrading their combat power in localized fights for small, "unimportant" settlements south and east of Bakhmut. The think tank expected the renewed Russian offensive to culminate along the E40 highway without seizing Sloviansk or Bakhmut.[164]

By late July, The Washington Post said that Russian advances in Ukraine had slowed "almost to a standstill". George Barros, an ISW analyst, told the newspaper that Russian forces were close to exhausting their ability to gain territory. He said the Russians might succeed in capturing "one or two more" towns, namely Siversk and Bakhmut, but would be unable to conquer the entirety of the Donbas region.[165]

Russian assaults near Bakhmut, Soledar, and Siversk

See also: Battle of Bakhmut and Battle of Soledar § Initial advances (3 August – 1 October 2022)

DPR forces claimed to have taken control of Berestove on 20 July, suggesting that control over the village would be advantageous for future operations towards Soledar and Bakhmut. ISW assessed that Russian forces had prepared three directions of advance toward Bakhmut: southwest from Berestove and Soledar, west from Pokrovske, and north from Novoluhanske and the Vuhlehirska power station. Meanwhile, the group of Russian forces outside of Siversk was said to be downgraded by its earlier operations.[164]

On 21 July, the British defence ministry warned that the Russians were closing in on the Vuhlehirska power station, the second largest power plant in Ukraine, and were attempting to make a breakthrough there.[166]

On 25 July, Russian forces gained control of Berestove. An LPR representative posted video footage of Wagner Group mercenaries in front of the entrance sign to Novoluhanske online, indicating that Russian troops had advanced into the town located roughly 25 km southeast of the Bakhmut outskirts. Several Russian sources also claimed that Russian forces had captured the Vuhlehirska power plant, located on the northern edge of Novoluhanske, and were actively clearing it, meanwhile the Ukrainian General Staff reported that the Russians only had "partial success" on that front. Pro-Russian sources said Wagner mercenary fighters took part in storming the power station and the fighting lasted several days before the plant was fully controlled by 26 July.[167] The ISW suggested Ukrainian troops likely conducted a "controlled withdrawal" from the Vuhlehirska reservoir area north-west towards Semyhirya.[168] A Ukrainian official confirmed the power plant's capture on 27 July.[169]

On 26 July, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian forces were fighting in the village of Semyhirya, west of the Vuhlehirska power plant.[170] On 27 July, geolocated video footage posted online showed that Wagner mercenaries had reached Klynove, while pro-Russian Telegram channel Readovka claimed that Russian forces established control over Pokrovske.[171]

On 28 July, the Ukrainian General Staff said the Russians made small gains near Soledar and Vershyna.[172][173] The Ukrainian military claimed to have neutralised 270 Russian and pro-Russian troops and destroyed seven tanks on 28 July, and that they successfully repelled all assaults on the Soledar-Vershyna front.[174][175] On this date, ISW suggested that the Russian force grouping in Donetsk Oblast may have deprioritized attempts to take Siversk in order to capitalize on their recent gains near Bakhmut, noting that the Russians had made no confirmed advances towards Siversk since taking control of the Luhansk Oblast in early July.[176]

On 1 August, the British defence ministry said Russia had made slow progress on the Bakhmut axis during daily assaults in the last four days.[177]

On 2 August, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu stated that Russian forces had captured six front line settlements in recent days: Berestove, Pokrovske, Novoluhanske, Semyhiria, Hryhorivka, and Stryapivka.[178] The Ukrainian General Staff also stated that Russian forces had "partial success" along the Vidrodzhennia-Kodema line, about 20 km southeast of Bakhmut.[179]

On 5 August, Russian sources claimed that Russian troops were actively fighting at the Knauf Gips Donbas gypsum factory on the southeastern outskirts of Soledar. Geolocated footage posted by DPR troops suggested Travneve was likely captured by 5 August.[180]

Russian sources claimed the villages of Volodymyrivka and Stryapivka, located southeast of Soledar, were captured by 9 August.[181] On 10 August, the DPR claimed to have captured Hladosove, west of Travneve.[182]

Russian and allied forces reportedly captured Kodema on 6 September.[183]

Russian assaults near Avdiivka, Pisky, and Marinka

See also: Battle of Pisky, Battle of Avdiivka (2023–2024) § Early conflict, and Battle of Marinka (2022–2023) § Initial Russian assaults

On 28 July, the Ukrainian General Staff said the Russians had resumed assaults on Avdiivka and Pisky. The Ukrainians accused Russian troops of wearing Ukrainian uniforms during their ground assaults.[172][173] The Ukrainian military claimed to have neutralised 270 Russian and pro-Russian troops and destroyed seven tanks on 28 July, and that they successfully repelled all assaults on the Avdiivka-Pisky front.[174][175]

However, the separatists claimed Russian and DPR forces in the Avdiivka area had made significant advances north and east of the city.[184]

The DPR's Kalmius Brigade fires Giatsint-B artillery on Ukrainian positions in July 2022. Video released by the Russian Ministry of Defence.

On 2 August, Russian forces captured Ukrainian positions around the Butivka Coal mine, southwest of Avdiivka, dislodging Ukrainian positions that had been held there since 2015.[179]

On 5 August, separatist authorities claimed that separate DPR brigades and Wagner Group forces had taken control of half of Marinka, but the Ukrainians reported the assaults on Marinka were unsuccessful.[180][185] On 6 August, combat footage confirmed that Russian forces advanced into the eastern outskirts of Marinka. On 7 August, Russian forces pierced through the defenses of Pisky and reached the center of the settlement.[186]

On 11 August, Russian and DPR sources claimed that roughly 90 percent of Pisky had been captured, and combat footage purportedly showed the Russians bombarding the village with TOS-1A thermobaric artillery.[187] The ISW assessed that Pisky had been captured by Russian forces by 24 August.[188]

Russian assaults near Sloviansk, Ukrainian counteroffensive

Russian forces launched an unsuccessful attack on Bohorodychne, Krasnopillia, and the nearby village of Dolyna on 7 July. That same day, Russian forces also unsuccessfully tried to bypass Barvinkove from the east with the intention of cutting the E40 Izium-Sloviansk highway, a key supply route for Ukrainian troops.[189] A major offensive took place in Krasnopillia on 11 and 12 July, with fierce shelling taking place in Dibrivne, Mazanivka, Adamivka, and Kurulka, all villages near Bohorodychne and Krasnopillia.[190][191] The following day, on 13 July, further Russian attacks were repelled from the northern part of Krasnopillia and Dolyna, reportedly in an attempt to further cut off the Izium-Sloviansk highway.[192]

Russian offensives against Bohorodychne and Krasnopillia renewed unsuccessfully on 17 and 18 July, with heavy shelling taking place against the towns and nearby settlements.[193][194] Shelling resumed again at Bohorodychne, Krasnopillia, and surrounding villages on 21 July.[195] On 26 July, Russian forces began another offensive against Krasnopillia and Bohorodychne, although were again unsuccessful.[196] Attacks restarted again on 31 July, when Russian forces began shelled Bohorodychne, Krasnopillia, and surrounding villages from the Russian-held village of Dmytrivka.[197]

On 5 August, presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych announced that the Ukrainian army had started a new counteroffensive near Izium against Russian forces and that fighting had started again in Dovhenke.[198] The next day, there was heavy Russian bombardment in the area, including in Dovhenke;[199] this continued on 7 August.[200] On 8 August, Arestovych said that, according to some sources, Dovhenke had been recaptured by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and that Ukraine was successfully advancing towards Izium.[201] A report published on that day by the Ministry of Defence of Russia said that Russian forces had destroyed seven drones in a group of various villages including Dovhenke.[202] On 9 August, Arestovych said that "Dovhenke is already behind us, according to some data. We have moved them."[203] That day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Dovhenke and several other villages were being attacked by Russian forces.[204] On 9 August, Ukrainian forces recaptured Mazanivka.[205]

Russian forces shelled Dovhenke and the villages around on 10 August. Fighting stagnated until 6 September, when a counteroffensive drove Russia from Dovhenke. It later pushed Russia from most of the Kharkiv oblast.[206]

Russian ground offensives relaunched on 21 August south and southeast of Izium, aiming to recapture villages retaken by Ukraine in the previous weeks. Ukrainian sources reported on 22 August that Russian troops attempted to advance on Dmytrivka and Nova Dmytrivka, along with launching more attacks on Krasnopillia.[7][207] Ukrainian forces also managed to capture the villages of Dibrivne and Dmytrivka in these counterattacks.[208]

Aftermath

Some of the gains of the offensive were reversed in September 2022, after Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast, recapturing the cities of Lyman and Sviatohirsk in the Donetsk region, and Bilohorivka, a village close to Lysychansk in the Luhansk Oblast.[209]

Military analysts Rob Lee and Michael Kofman wrote that "Ukraine's successes in Kherson and Kharkiv were largely a result of the losses it inflicted on the Russian military in the Battle for the Donbas in the spring and early summer." Despite Russia's territorial gains, they nevertheless called the outcome of the Donbas offensive a "pyrrhic victory" for Russia, citing long-term negative impacts on Russia's ability to hold the territory it gained during the offensive and the war in general.[23] Namely, Russia expended vast amounts of manpower and artillery ammunition to take territory in the Donbas. Lee and Kofman noted that Russia compensated for losses in manpower and artillery shells by introducing mobilization, but interpreted Russia's restricted artillery shelling of Bakhmut in December 2022 as a result of resources being depleted during the Donbas offensive.[23]

Ukraine's counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast largely stalled as their ground forces approached the Svatove–Kreminna line, returning to mostly positional warfare on this front by November–December 2022.[210] In early November 2022, Russia launched a renewed offensive in northern and southern Donetsk Oblast, especially on the approach to Bakhmut.[211]

Casualties

Military casualties

The Ukrainian government refrained from providing overall numbers of casualties to their own forces in the Donbas, although they did periodically offer various estimates of daily casualty counts. According to Ukraine, between 50 and 100 Ukrainian soldiers were being killed daily on the Donbas front as of late May 2022.[212] By early June 2022, up to 200 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 800+ wounded daily in the Donbas.[213][214] By mid-June, some Ukrainian officials estimated that Ukrainian forces were sustaining well over the previous mark of 1,000 casualties per day, including 200–500 killed.[215]

With respect to Russian casualties, the Ukrainian Operational Command East provided daily casualty claims of Russian troops until 2 July 2022.

During the fighting, an LPR battalion commander was killed when he and his fighters were surrounded by Ukrainian forces close to Kreminna and "fought to the last", according to the LPR. The clashes left an unknown number of killed and wounded.[216]

On 18 July 2022, two Americans, a Canadian, and a Swedish national were killed during a Russian tank ambush during clashes near Hryhorivka, northeast of Siversk. The foreign fighters were part of a special operations unit of Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces.[217][218]

Breakdown Casualties Time period Source
Ukrainian forces
(ZSU, NGU) 		15,680+ killed 21 April – 2 July 2022 Russian Ministry of Defence[219]
Russian and allied forces
(RAF, DPR, LPR, PMC Wagner) 		19,063-19,563+ killed, excluding the Avdiivka front (see note)[223] 18 April 2022 – 2 October 2022 Ukrainian Eastern Command[224]
Donetsk PR forces 2,575+ killed, 11,139+ wounded 23 April – 2 December 2022 Donetsk PR[225]

Civilian casualties

Refugees gather their belongings in front of a van on the way from Bylbasivka (Donetsk) to Dnipro on 23 June 2022.

During the battle, Russia intensified its attacks on civilian-populated areas. 60 civilians were believed to be killed and at least seven wounded due to a Russian airstrike on a school sheltering about 90 civilians in Luhansk Oblast,[226] whereas the bodies of 44 civilians were recovered from rubble underneath an apartment building in Izium.[227] During the battle of Kreminna, near Rubizhne and Lysychansk,[228] Ukrainian forces lost control amid heavy fighting.[229] More than 200 civilians were killed during the battle, with four additional civilians being killed and one more wounded as they attempted to escape the fighting.[230] The Ukrainian government claimed that over 1,500 civilians were killed in Sievierodonetsk on 26 May.[231] On 10 July, a Russian rocket attack in Chasiv Yar struck a multi-story residential building, killing at least 34 people.[232][233]

As of 1 June, military activity related to the battle was confirmed to have killed at least 5,154 civilians and wounded over 5,605 more. As of 10 October, the United Nations counted 2,964 civilians killed in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions alone, in addition to 3,683 civilians wounded.[234]

The true number of civilian deaths and injuries is guaranteed to be significantly higher. Civilian casualties are impossible to tabulate due to the fog of war and lack of information flow due to the military occupation of segments of Ukrainian territory. For example, according to Ukrainian sources, "thousands" of civilians were killed in Lysychansk, although official data only accounted for 150 killed civilians.[235]

Civilian deaths by area
Area Casualties Time period Source
Bakhmut 204+ killed, 505+ wounded 1 August 2022 - 1 June 2023 Ukrainian government[236]
Bilohorivka 60 killed, 7 wounded 8 May 2022 Ukrainian government[237]
Donetsk Oblast
(excluding Mariupol) 		959 killed, 1,899 wounded 18 April – 13 November 2022 Ukrainian government[238]
Kreminna 200 killed 18–19 April 2022 Ukrainian government[239]
Sievierodonetsk 1,100+ killed, 52+ wounded 27 May 2022 Ukrainian government[240]
Lysychansk 158+ killed, 42+ wounded 25 May 2022 Ukrainian government[241][242]
Kharkiv Oblast
(excluding Izium) 		723+ killed, 328+ wounded 18 April – 30 September 2022 Ukrainian government[243][244]
Izium 1,000+ killed 13 September 2022 Ukrainian government[245]
Luhansk Oblast
(excluding Sievierodonetsk) 		90 killed, 72 wounded 18 April – 16 June 2022 Ukrainian government[246]
Azovstal 600 wounded 29 April 2022 Ukrainian government[247]
Donetsk PR 571 killed, 1,765 wounded 23 April – 11 November 2022 Donetsk PR[248]
Luhansk PR 101+ killed, 314+ wounded 28 April – 6 October 2022 Luhansk PR[249]
TOTAL 5,154+ civilians killed, 5,605+ wounded 18 April – 1 June 2023

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ukraine latest news: Shelling constant in Severodonetsk as Russian forces advance". BBC News. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 26". Institute for the Study of War. 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  3. ^ Mayor of captured Ukrainian town switches sides
  4. ^ a b "Ukraine official: Russia captured 42 villages in Donetsk region on Thursday". Reuters. 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Russia-Ukraine live news: Russian troops seize eastern towns – Russia seizes two towns in Donbas: Ukraine military". Aljazeera. 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  6. ^ FP Explainers (20 April 2022). "Battle of Donbas begins: Why Russia has turned its attention to east of Ukraine". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  7. ^ a b Ponomarenko, Illia (21 April 2022). "EXPLAINER: What to expect from the Battle of the Donbas, Russia's new offensive". Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Російські війська розпочали битву за Донбас – Зеленський". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Зеленский: Битва за Донбасс началась, генералы РФ действуют осторожнее". Украинская правда (in Russian). Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Битва за Донбасс началась, ничего украинского не отдадим — Зеленский | Громадское телевидение". hromadske.ua (in Russian). 18 April 2022. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  11. ^ Bullock, Thomas; Fiorenza, Nicholas (22 April 2022). "Ukraine conflict: Russia begins Donbas offensive". Janes Defence. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Єрмак: Почалася друга фаза війни, але у ЗСУ все надійно". www.ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). 18 April 2022. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  13. ^ Kirby, Paul (19 April 2022). "Donbas: Why Russia is trying to encircle Ukraine's east". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  14. ^ Ellyatt, Holly (20 April 2022). "Russia and Ukraine's battle for Donbas could decide the war — and it could go either way". CNBC. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Russia says first phase of Ukraine operation mostly complete, focus now on Donbass". Reuters via Yahoo Finance. 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Russia Claims It Has 97% Control of Ukraine's Luhansk Province". VOANews. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Ukrainian forces now control nearly 45% of Donetsk, says official". BusinessStandard. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Шойгу доложил Путину о взятии под контроль территории ЛНР". www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  19. ^ Hopkins, Valerie; Nechepurenko, Ivan; Santora, Marc (16 May 2022). "The Ukrainian authorities declare an end to the combat mission in Mariupol after weeks of Russian siege". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Ukraine war: Kyiv orders forces to withdraw from Severodonetsk". BBC News. 24 June 2022.
  21. ^ a b Stepanenko, Kateryna; Hird, Karolina; Kagan, Frederick W. (2 July 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 2". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Ukrainian forces lose foothold in eastern town". CNN. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  23. ^ a b c "How the Battle for the Donbas Shaped Ukraine's Success".
  24. ^ "Conflict-related civilian casualties in Ukraine" (PDF). Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. 8 October 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  25. ^ Более 53 тысяч беженцев из ЛНР и ДНР пересекли границу России [More than 53 thousand refugees from the LNR and DNR crossed the Russian border]. RIA Novosti. 20 February 2022. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  26. ^ "How Ukraine separatists are mass conscripting anyone of fighting age | DW | 27.04.2022". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Russia recognizes Ukraine separatist regions as independent states". BBC News. 21 February 2022. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  28. ^ "The agony of not knowing, as Mariupol mass burial sites grow". British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  29. ^ "U.S. believes Russia's pullback near Kyiv is "repositioning," not "withdrawal"". 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Russia claims it has taken 93% of territory of Ukraine's Luhansk region - TASS". Yahoo! Finance. Reuters. 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  31. ^ "Russian troops pull back from areas near Kyiv, Ukrainian officials say". 2 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  32. ^ "Russia Fully Withdraws From Kyiv Area, U.S. Says—Here's What Could Happen Next". Forbes. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  33. ^ a b "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 1 | Institute for the Study of War". understandingwar.org. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  34. ^ "The russians are controlling Izyum – General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces". mil.in.ua. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  35. ^ Свобода, Радіо (1 April 2022). "На Київщині ЗСУ звільнили 15 населених пунктів – зведення Генерального штабу". Радіо Свобода.
  36. ^ "The russians are controlling Izyum – General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces".
  37. ^ Rob Picheta (6 April 2022). "The fight for Sloviansk may be 'the next pivotal battle' of Russia's war in Ukraine". CNN. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  38. ^ "Russia 'repositioning' in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region: US". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  39. ^ "Looming battle in Donbas to shape course of Russia's war in Ukraine". Reuters. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  40. ^ Stepanov, Anatoly (19 April 2022). "New 'Phase' of Ukraine War as Russia Attacks East". The Moscow Times. AFP. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  41. ^ "Volodymyr Zelensky confirme que l'offensive russe dans l'est de l'Ukraine a commencé". BFMTV (in French). Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  42. ^ a b Hubenko, Dmytro (22 April 2022). "Russia eyes route to Trans-Dniester: What do we know?". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  43. ^ "Russia plans to seize Donbas, southern Ukraine: Military official". Al Jazeera. 22 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  44. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  45. ^ a b c "The battle for Donbas: 'the real test of this war'". Financial Times. 24 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  46. ^ desk, The Kyiv Independent news (30 June 2022). "Institute for the Study of War: Russia still has territorial ambitions beyond Donbas". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 13 July 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  47. ^ "The LPR announced its need to move the Ukrainian army 300 kilometers from the borders of the Republic". donetsk.kp.ru. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  48. ^ "LPR Ambassador: "We have no intent to tolerate the toxic Ukrainian regime"". vz.ru. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  49. ^ Vergun, David (18 April 2022). "Defense Official: Russia Adds 11 Battalion Tactical Groups in Ukraine". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  50. ^ a b "Russia deploys up to 20,000 mercenaries in battle for Ukraine's Donbas region". The Guardian. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  51. ^ a b "EXPLAINER: What to expect from the battle of the Donbas, Russia's new offensive". 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  52. ^ a b Adam Schrek (19 April 2022). "Russia pours in more troops and presses attack in the east". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  53. ^ "Russia is deploying up to 20,000 Syrian, Libyan, and Wagner Group mercenaries in the Donbas, European official says". Insider. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  54. ^ "Ukraine: the battle for Donbas will be protracted and bloody – military expert". The Conversation. 12 April 2022. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  55. ^ "Ukraine: Facing the Russian Army on the front line in Donbas". BBC. 25 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  56. ^ "Ukrainian combat group in Donbass numbers 44,000 troops, says Zelensky". Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  57. ^ "Ukraine war: Russia bombards cities as eastern offensive begins". BBC News. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  58. ^ "US rockets blow up a Russian ammo depot in Donetsk Oblast in a fierce response to Putin's forces capturing the region". LondonLovesBusiness. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  59. ^ "Massive Explosion as Russian Ammo Warehouse Hit in Donetsk Region". Newsweek. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  60. ^ a b c "Renewed RF assaults in Siversk and Bakhmut sectors, UAF claims Kremlin ammo problems". Kyiv Post. 6 July 2022.
  61. ^ "Artillery from our Western partners started working very powerfully, so the losses of the occupiers will only increase – address by the President of Ukraine". President of Ukraine Official Website. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  62. ^ Andrew Harding (28 July 2022). "Ukraine war: West's modern weapons halt Russia's advance in Donbas". BBC. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  63. ^ "Massive Bombardment Signals Russia's Renewed Offensive In Eastern Ukraine". Forbes. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  64. ^ Severy, Misty (18 April 2022). "Zelensky declares battle for Donbas has begun". The Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  65. ^ "Вночі ворог здійснив ракетний обстріл Краматорська". www.ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). 18 April 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  66. ^ "Битва за Донбас розпочалася, нічого українського не віддамо — Зеленський | Громадське телебачення". hromadske.ua (in Ukrainian). 18 April 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  67. ^ "Голова Луганської ОВА: Часу на роздуми нема – виїжджайте, бо уб'ють". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  68. ^ ""Люди гибнут даже в укрытиях" – глава военной администрации Попасной". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). 20 April 2022. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  69. ^ a b c "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, APRIL 20". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  70. ^ a b c d "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, APRIL 24". Institute for the Study of War. 24 April 2022. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  71. ^ "Military correspondent Kotenok about the capture of Popasna: returned to the LPR". 7 May 2022. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  72. ^ "Ukraine troops retreat from Popasna, Luhansk governor confirms". Reuters. 8 May 2022. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  73. ^ "Ukraine resists Russia's invasion. Day 55: Russia begins assault on Donbas, bombed-out Azovstal, Ukraine retakes Maryinka". Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  74. ^ "Оккупанты 20 апреля обстреляли восемь населенных пунктов Донецкой области, есть погибший и пострадавшие – МВД" (in Russian). 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  75. ^ a b c Kagan, Frederick W.; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Hird, Karolina (26 April 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 26". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  76. ^ "The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation in the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic as a result of hostilities in the period from 23 to 29 April 2022". DNR Ombudsman. 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  77. ^ "War in Ukraine: Heavy pounding on Donbas front with Russian army advancing whatever the cost". Le Monde.fr. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  78. ^ "Russia's Donbas offensive advances with fall of Kreminna". France 24. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  79. ^ "Russian forces capture first city in battle for Donbas". The Guardian. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  80. ^ "Luhansk Military Administration: Russian occupiers and their collaborators die in an explosion in Kreminna City Hall". Pravda.com.ua. 25 April 2022. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  81. ^ "Ukrainian forces lose foothold in eastern town". CNN. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  82. ^ "Bloody river battle was third in three days – Ukraine official". BBC News. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  83. ^ Parker, Charlie. "Russian battalion wiped out trying to cross river of death". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  84. ^ Troianovski, Anton; Santora, Marc (15 May 2022). "Growing evidence of a military disaster on the Donets pierces a pro-Russian bubble". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  85. ^ "На Луганщині точаться бої за Воєводівку, Тошківку та Нижнє". Укрінформ. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022.
  86. ^ "Ukraine wages counter attack against Russian forces in east". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 May 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  87. ^ "Ukraine wages counter attack against Russian forces in east". Reuters. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  88. ^ a b c "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 15". Critical Threats. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  89. ^ "Russia's 'cauldron' tactic may be tipping Donbas battle in its favour". The Guardian. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  90. ^ "Пушилин заявил о начале штурма города Красный Лиман в Донецкой области". RBK Group (in Russian). 24 May 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  91. ^ "Russia squeezes Ukrainian strongholds in eastern Donbas region". PBS NewsHour. Associated Press. 27 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  92. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, MAY 26". Institute for the Study of War. 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  93. ^ "Latest Developments in Ukraine: May 27". Voice of America. 27 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  94. ^ "Russia seeking to capture Ukraine's Lyman: separatist leader". Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  95. ^ "Russian forces have 'upper hand' in Donbas fighting, Ukrainian officials say". TheGuardian.com. 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  96. ^ "Russia captures strategically important town ahead of 'next stage' of Ukraine invasion: UK intelligence". news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  97. ^ "RID Rivista Italiana Difesa". www.rid.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  98. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 8. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  99. ^ "Частина Святогірська під окупацією, ДБР розслідує можливу держзраду мера - чим це загрожує" (in Ukrainian). 9 June 2022.
  100. ^ "Russian Troops Trying To Advance In Direction Of Dovhenke Of Kharkiv Region - AFU". Ukrainian News. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  101. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 6". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  102. ^ "Armed Forces of Ukraine are killing the invaders on all fronts, the battle for Sievierodonetsk continues - the General Staff report". Yahoo News. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  103. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 19 July 2022.[dead link]
  104. ^ "Russian troops attempt to capture Bohorodychne but are repelled by Ukrainian Armed Forces – General Staff report".
  105. ^ "Operational information from the regions of the Active Community Network June 30, 2022".
  106. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 25". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  107. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 29". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  108. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 30". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  109. ^ Gall, Carlotta; Lima, Mauricio (8 July 2022). "As Russia Looms, a Ukrainian City's Loyalties Divide". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  110. ^ Terajima, Asami (6 July 2022). "Sloviansk under heavy fire as Russia's war enters new phase". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  111. ^ "Russia advances in eastern Ukraine as Zelenskyy says Donbas turning into 'hell'". NBC News. 20 May 2022. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  112. ^ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 20, Critical Threats, archived from the original on 24 May 2022, retrieved 24 May 2022
  113. ^ Russia advances in eastern Ukraine as Zelenskyy says Donbas turning into 'hell', NBC, 20 May 2022, archived from the original on 20 May 2022, retrieved 20 May 2022
  114. ^ RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, MAY 22, ISW, archived from the original on 23 May 2022, retrieved 24 May 2022
  115. ^ "Donetsk region: occupying forces capture Svitlodarsk". Yahoo News. 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  116. ^ "Ukrainian official says about 80% of Severodonetsk is occupied by Russian forces". CNN. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  117. ^ "Ukraine has retaken about 20% of territory lost in Sievierodonetsk -regional head". Reuters. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  118. ^ "Russia-Ukraine war: Russian bombardment of Sievierodonetsk 'pushes Ukrainian troops back to city's outskirts' – live". The Guardian. 8 June 2022.
  119. ^ Russo-Ukrainian war, day 89: Ukraine slows down Russian advance in Donbas, rules out ceasefire & territorial concessions, Euromaidan Press, 23 May 2022, archived from the original on 24 May 2022, retrieved 24 May 2022
  120. ^ a b "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.[dead link]
  121. ^ "Russia has captured Donbas frontline village Toshkivka: Ukraine". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  122. ^ "Russian forces capture several more settlements in Ukraine's Luhansk region". Reuters. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  123. ^ "2 more Luhansk settlements fall to Russia as pressure builds on Lysychansk". CNN. 23 June 2022.
  124. ^ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 23
  125. ^ Russia Has Potential Plan To Smash Ukrainian Stronghold In Luhansk Region
  126. ^ "Russia urges Ukrainian fighters in Severodonetsk to lay down arms". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  127. ^ "Ukraine's Armed Forces make enemy offensive near Mykolaivka stall". www.ukrinform.net. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  128. ^ "General Staff Summary: Russians want to establish control over Bohorodychne and launch an offensive on Sloviansk". news.yahoo.com. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  129. ^ "Ukrainian troops may pull back from Lysychansk front line to avoid encirclement -governor". Reuters. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  130. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  131. ^ Военная операция на Украине
  132. ^ Russia targeted Ukrainian ammunition to weaken Kyiv on the battlefield
  133. ^ "Ukrainian troops told to leave Severodonetsk: governor". PolskieRadio.pl. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  134. ^ "Ukrainians Retreat From Key Areas Of Eastern Region As Fighting Enters Fifth Month". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  135. ^ Mayor Says Ukrainian Troops Have 'Almost Left' Sievierodonetsk
  136. ^ "Enemy attempting to encircle Ukrainian troops near Lysychansk". Ukrinform.net. 1 July 2022.
  137. ^ "Ukraine-Russia War: Russian missile strike kills 18 in Odesa – ministry". The Jerusalem Post. 1 July 2022.
  138. ^ "There is risk of Luhansk Region being seized, but Lysychansk not under enemy control yet – Zelensky". Ukrinform. 3 July 2022.
  139. ^ "Russian forces claim to take control over Lysychansk, Ukraine's last holdout in Luhansk region". CNN. 3 July 2022.
  140. ^ "Report of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation on the territory of Ukraine". Telegram. 3 July 2022.
  141. ^ "ВС РФ овладели Белогоровкой и водрузили на здании администрации Знамя Победы, сообщает Минобороны". Telegram. 3 July 2022.
  142. ^ "Russia claims control of pivotal eastern Ukrainian province". Daily Independent. 3 July 2022. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  143. ^ "Splintered Ukrainian city braces for new battle with Russia". Associated Press. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  144. ^ Inwood, Joe (4 July 2022). "Ukraine war: What is Putin's plan now Luhansk has fallen?". BBC News. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  145. ^ Murru, Maria Grazia; Stashevskyi, Oleksandr (7 July 2022). "Russia taking 'operational pause' in Ukraine, analysts say". ABC News. AP. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  146. ^ "UK says Russia concentrating for attack on Ukraine's city of Siversk". Yahoo News. 8 July 2022.
  147. ^ "Ukrainian Troops Dig In at New Front Line in Bid to Stop Russian Advance". VOA. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  148. ^ Beecher, Jay (14 July 2022). "Russian Invaders Attempt to Break Through to Siversk to Open Way to Bakhmut - Kyiv Post - Ukraine's Global Voice". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  149. ^ "Putin declares victory in Luhansk after fall of Lysychansk". The Guardian. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  150. ^ "Ukraine Invasion Day 132: improvise, adapt, overcome". Daily Kos. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  151. ^ "Timeline: Week 19 of Russia's war in Ukraine". Al Jazeera. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  152. ^ "Mayor tells civilians to flee as Russian forces approach; Ukraine warns it will need 'colossal funds' to rebuild". CNBC. 5 July 2022.
  153. ^ "12 killed in Ukraine as Russia pounds rebel-claimed province". Associated Press. 6 July 2022.
  154. ^ "Ukraine War: Zelensky orders civilians to evacuate Donetsk region". BBC. 31 July 2022.
  155. ^ "'No safe place' from Russian artillery as offensive underway in Ukraine's Donetsk". NBC News. 6 July 2022.
  156. ^ Gershkovich, Alan Cullison and Evan. "Ukraine Braces for Russian Assault on City It Retook After 2014 Revolt". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  157. ^ "Russian rocket attack on Donetsk apartment block kills 24; Moscow temporarily halts gas flows to Europe". CNBC. 11 July 2022.
  158. ^ Таня Матяш (13 July 2022). "Росія спробує взяти кілька міст на підступах до Слов'янська і Краматорська, - британська розвідка" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  159. ^ Alan Cullison; Evan Gershkovich (9 July 2022). "Ukraine Braces for Russian Assault on City It Retook After 2014 Revolt". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  160. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 15". Institute for the Study of War. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  161. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.[dead link]
  162. ^ "Bloody battle for control rages in eastern Ukraine as Russia struggles to gain ground in Donetsk". CNN. 17 July 2022. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  163. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 26". Institute for the Study of War. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  164. ^ a b "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 20". Institute for the Study of War. 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  165. ^ Sly, Liz (28 July 2022). "Ukraine could be turning the tide of war again as Russian advances stall". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  166. ^ "Russian forces close in on Ukraine's second biggest power plant". The Telegraph. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  167. ^ "Russian forces take Vuhlehirska power station under total control". english.pravda.ru. 26 July 2022.
  168. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 25". Institute for the Study of War. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  169. ^ Natalia Zinets (27 July 2022). "Russian forces capture Ukraine's second biggest power plant, Ukraine says". Reuters. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  170. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 26". Institute for the Study of War. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  171. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 27". Institute for the Study of War. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  172. ^ a b "Invaders Tried To Storm Pisky Wearing AFU Uniform – General Staff". Ukranews. 28 July 2022.
  173. ^ a b "Russian forces make small gains in Donetsk region, Ukrainian military says". CNN. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  174. ^ a b "Armed Forces of Ukraine neutralise a Russian reconnaissance group on the Sloviansk front General Staff report". Yahoo News. 29 July 2022.
  175. ^ a b "AFU Liquidate Another 270 Invaders And 7 Enemy Tanks Over Past Day. Fresh Data From General Staff". Ukranews. 29 July 2022.
  176. ^ Hird, Karolina; Mappes, Grace; Phillippson, Layne; Lawlor, Katherine; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 28". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  177. ^ "Britain says Russia has continued to attempt tactical assaults on Bakhmut axis". Reuters. 1 August 2022.
  178. ^ "Shoigu says occupation of the Donetsk Oblast continues "according to plan"". Yahoo News. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  179. ^ a b "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 2". The Institute for the Study of War. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  180. ^ a b "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 5". The Institute for the Study of War. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  181. ^ "Russia Pummels Donetsk as New Offensive Intensifies". The National Interest. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  182. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 10". 10 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  183. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 6". The Institute for the Study of War. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  184. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 29". Institute for the Study of War. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  185. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 6". Institute for the Study of War. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  186. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 7". The Institute for the Study of War. 7 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  187. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 11". The Institute for the Study of War. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  188. ^ Hird, Karolina; Philipson, Layne; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (25 August 2022). "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, AUGUST 25". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  189. ^ "Russia may be preparing attack on Ukraine's Slovyansk, Kramatorsk: report". Polskie Radio. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  190. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  191. ^ "Ukrainian Armed Forces repel Russian assault on Krasnopillia and Mariinka General Staff report". yahoo.com. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  192. ^ "Ukraine Army repels enemy assault in Sloviansk direction". Ukrinform. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  193. ^ "Ukraine Army Repulses Assaults and Russia's Attempt to Conduct Reconnaissance". Kyiv Post. 17 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  194. ^ "Russian army suffers losses on Sloviansk and Avdiivka fronts – General Staff report". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  195. ^ "Russians trying to improve tactical position in Bakhmut direction". Yahoo. 21 July 2022.
  196. ^ "Russian forces fail to advance on the Sloviansk front, fighting continues on the Bakhmut front – General Staff report". Ukrainska Pravda. 26 July 2022.
  197. ^ "Invaders Suffer Losses And Retreat Near Sloviansk And Bakhmut - General Staff". Ukrainian News. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  198. ^ "Ми вже наступаємо", - Арестович прокоментував військову ситуацію у Харківській області
  199. ^ Окупанти наступали на трьох напрямках, але отримали відсіч – зведення Генштабу
  200. ^ Російські військові намагалися вести штурм у Харківській області
  201. ^ "М'ясорубка" під Бахмутом та "спека" під Херсоном: хроніка війни 8 серпня
  202. ^ Сбиты семь украинских беспилотников и три ракеты «Точка-У» — Минобороны
  203. ^ Арестович прокоментував військову ситуацію у Харківській області
  204. ^ Постійні обстріли, нові навчання білорусі та невдалі штурми ворога: що відбувається на фронті
  205. ^ Axe, David. "Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade Just Liberated A Village From The Russians". Forbes. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  206. ^ На Харківському напрямку ЗСУ змусили окупантів тікати після невдалого штурму — Генштаб
  207. ^ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, 23 August
  208. ^ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, 22 August
  209. ^ "Russia no longer has full control of Luhansk region after Ukraine captures village". TheGuardian.com. 19 September 2022.
  210. ^ Sauer, Pjotr (27 December 2022). "Ukraine says forces closer to recapturing key eastern city of Kreminna". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  211. ^ "Russians going on offensive in three directions of Donetsk region". www.ukrinform.net. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  212. ^ "Zelenskyy: up to Ukrainian 100 soldiers killed each day in eastern Ukraine". news.yahoo.com. 22 May 2022. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  213. ^ "Ukraine and Russia 'compete to be last army standing' as Donbas deaths mount". TheGuardian.com. 8 June 2022.
  214. ^ "Russia-Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine losing up to 200 fighters daily; Putin links war to Russia's imperial past". Washington Post. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  215. ^ Lawler, Dave (15 June 2022). "Ukraine suffering up to 1,000 casualties per day in Donbas, official says". Axios. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  216. ^ "Pro-Russian separatist army commander killed in east of Ukraine". BBC News. 16 April 2022. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  217. ^ Miller, Christopher. "Russian tank attack in eastern Ukraine kills 2 Americans, Canadian and Swede". Politico. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  218. ^ "Two Americans Killed in the Donbass". Atlas News. 23 July 2022. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  219. ^ 120 killed (21 April) [1] Archived 22 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 80 killed (22 April) [2] 200 killed (23 April),[3] Archived 1 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 160 killed (25 April) [4] 560 killed (26 April),[5] Archived 27 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 120 killed (27 April),[6] Archived 27 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 320 killed (28 April),[7] Archived 28 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 280 killed (29 April),[citation needed] 320 killed (30 April),[8] Archived 12 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [9] Archived 1 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 440 killed (1 May) [10] Archived 14 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 160 killed (2 May) [11] 230 killed (3 May)[12] Archived 5 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 310 killed (4 May) [13] Archived 9 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 600 killed (5 May) [14] Archived 14 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 280 killed (6 May) [15] 210 killed (7 May) [16] 420 killed (8 May) [17] Archived 10 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 350 killed (9 May) [18] 280 killed (11 May) [19] 320 killed (12 May) [20] 620 killed (13 May) [21] Archived 14 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [22] 100 killed (14 May) [23] 360 killed (16 May) [24] Archived 18 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 470 killed (17 May) [25] Archived 18 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 270 killed (18 May) [26] Archived 18 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 210 killed (22 May) [27] Archived 23 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 230 killed (23 May) [28] Archived 23 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 350 killed (26 May) [29] Archived 26 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 140 killed (1 June) [30] 240 killed (2 June) [31] 360 killed (3 June) [32] 400 killed (4 June) [33] Archived 4 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine 400 killed (7 June) [34] 780 killed (8 June) [35] Archived 22 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine 300 killed (11 June) [36] 350 killed (14 June) [37] 280 killed (16 June) [38] 200 killed (17 June) [39] 160 killed (18 June) [40] 400 killed (19 June) [41] 450 killed (20 June) [42] 120 (22 June) [43] 150 killed (23 June) [44] 420 killed (24 June) [45] 780 killed (25 June) [46] 720 killed (26 June) [47] 100 killed (28 June) [48] 420 killed (29 June) [49] 140 killed (30 June) [50] 190 killed (1 July) [51] 150 killed (2 July) [52] total of 15,680+ killed claimed by Russia
  220. ^ "Day 145, July 18. Summary of Arestovych and Feygin daily broadcast • WarTranslated". 18 July 2022.
  221. ^ "Ukraine conflict death toll: What we know". 13 April 2022.
  222. ^ "Why is it so hard to get accurate death tolls in the Russia-Ukraine war?".
  223. ^ In addition to the casualty claims published by Operational Command East and other official sources, some pro-Ukrainian sources have claimed even higher numbers for Russian losses during the campaign. A Ukrainian government official, Oleksii Arestovych has made the claim that Russian forces had suffered around 30,000 casualties during the battle of Avdiivka over the previous 100 days, of whom 10,000 were killed.[220] However, these claimed figures have been verified by independent observers, and are probably inflated, as are most other casualty claims made by the two combatants.[221][222]
  224. ^ 1,500+ killed in battle of Lyman (September–October 2022) [53] 200 killed in artillery strike on Russian command post [54] 10,000-11,000 killed during the battle of Sievierodonetsk [55] 20–25 killed during battle of Popasna [56] Archived 21 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 1,000–1,500+ killed during battle of Siverskyi Donets [57] Archived 14 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [58] 20 killed (18 April),[59] Archived 12 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 30 killed (19 April),[60] Archived 27 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 36 killed (20 April),[61] Archived 30 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 200 killed (21 April),[62] Archived 22 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 130 killed (22 April),[63] Archived 23 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 150 killed (23 April),[64] Archived 26 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 100 killed (24 April),[65] Archived 1 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 160 killed (25 April),[66] Archived 26 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 100 killed (26 April),[67] Archived 9 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 75 killed (27 April),[68] Archived 27 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 42 killed (28 April),[69] Archived 28 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 173 killed (29 April), [70] Archived 29 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine 81 killed (30 April), [71] 57 killed (1 May), [72] Archived 1 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 275 killed (2 May), [73] Archived 2 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [74] Archived 9 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 40 killed (3 May), [75] Archived 8 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 36 killed (4 May), [76] Archived 4 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 32 killed (5 May), [77] Archived 9 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 15 killed (6 May), [78] Archived 7 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 107 killed (7 May) [79] Archived 13 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 190 killed (8 May) [80] Archived 9 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 250 killed (9 May) [81] Archived 10 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 260 killed (10 May) [82] Archived 11 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 250 killed (11 May) [83] Archived 11 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 180 killed (12 May) [84] Archived 13 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 130 killed (13 May) [85] 80 killed (14 May) [86] 84 killed (15 May) [87] 178 killed (16 May) [88] Archived 17 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 110 killed (17 May) [89] Archived 18 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 220 killed (18 May) [90] Archived 18 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 40 killed (19 May) [91] Archived 20 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 80 killed (20 May) [92] Archived 20 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 28 killed (21 May) [93] Archived 21 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 9 killed (22 May) [94] Archived 22 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 30 killed (23 May) [95] Archived 23 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 180 killed (24 May) [96] Archived 24 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 62 killed (25 May) [97] Archived 25 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 87 killed (26 May) [98] Archived 26 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 60 killed (27 May) [99] Archived 27 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 33 killed (28 May) [100] Archived 1 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine 39 killed (29 May) [101] Archived 30 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 50 killed (30 May) [102] Archived 30 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine 22 killed (31 May) [103] 38 killed (1 June) [104] 32 killed (2 June) [105] 36 killed (3 June) [106] 60 killed (4 June) [107] 43 killed (5 June) [108] 48 killed (6 June) [109] 56 killed (7 June) [110] 31 killed (8 June) [111] 32 killed (9 June) [112] 30 killed (10 June) [113] 20 killed (11 June) [114] 18 killed (12 June) [115] 48 killed (13 June) [116] 73 killed (14 June) [117] 34 killed (15 June) [118] 26 killed (16 June) [119] 15 killed (17 June) [120] 87 killed (18 June) [121] 14 killed (19 June) [122] 106 killed (20 June) [123] total of 19,063-19,563+ killed claimed by Ukraine
  225. ^ 1,426 killed and 5,766 wounded between 23 February and 22 April [124], with 4,001 killed and 16,905 wounded during the period of the entire invasion [125], leaving 2,575 killed and 11,139 wounded during the period of the battle.
  226. ^ "60 believed killed after school attack by Russia in east Ukraine". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  227. ^ "Bodies of 44 civilians found under rubble of five-story house in occupied Izyum, says governor". news.yahoo.com. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  228. ^ "Росіяни взяли під контроль Кремінну, йдуть вуличні бої – Гайдай". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  229. ^ Sangal, Aditi; Macaya, Melissa; Chowdhury, Maureen; Caldwell, Travis; Regan, Helen; Guy, Jack; Ramsay, George (18 April 2022). "Control over city of Kreminna "lost" amid heavy fighting". CNN. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  230. ^ Zabrisky, Zarina [@ZarinaZabrisky] (18 April 2022). "#Luhansk region The Russians opened fire on the cars with civilians trying to leave Kremennaya, 4 dead, 1 wounded. Medics cannot reach her because of the endless shelling and street fighting. Serhiy Gaidai, head of the Luhansk OVA" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 April 2022 – via Twitter.
  231. ^ "Ukraine fears repeat of Mariupol horrors as Donbas offensive increases". 27 May 2022. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  232. ^ "Russian missile attack on high-rise building in Donetsk region: death toll rises to 15". 10 July 2022. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  233. ^ "Chasiv Yar death toll rises to 34 in one of Russia's deadliest attacks so far". The Guardian. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  234. ^ 3,696 civilians killed and 4,957 wounded from the start of the invasion until 10 October [126], with 732 killed and 1,371 wounded up to 24 February [127], leaving a total of 3,696 civilians killed and 4,957 wounded counted by the U.N. during the period of the battle
  235. ^ "'The Russians are determined': Ukrainian soldiers defending Donbas city try to keep up morale under fire". Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  236. ^ Mayor: 204 Bakhmut residents killed, 505 injured since start of full-scale invasion
  237. ^ "Ukraine war: 60 people killed after bomb hits school, Zelensky says". BBC News. 8 May 2022. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  238. ^ 1204 civilians were killed and 2,588 wounded during the period of the invasion [128], of which 245 civilians were killed and 789 were wounded between 24 February – 18 April,[129] leaving a total of 959 civilians killed and 1,899 wounded between 18 April – 13 November
  239. ^ "Russia takes Donbas town but Ukrainian frontline 'still holding'". The Guardian. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  240. ^ Up to 26 May 2022, at least 1,500 people had been killed since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022,[130] Archived 28 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine including around 400 who died by 12 April 2022.[131] Archived 26 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine
  241. ^ "Russian forces have 'upper hand' in Donbas fighting, Ukrainian officials say". TheGuardian.com. 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  242. ^ "8 killed in Lysychansk as Russian forces try to storm the city, Ukrainian military official says". 27 June 2022.
  243. ^ 723 civilians killed in the period 18 April – 27 June (554 civilians killed up until 18 April [132], 1277 civilians killed up until 30 September [133] leaving a total of 306 civilians dead during the period of the battle
  244. ^ 328+ wounded between 18 April and 27 June) 15 wounded (18 April) [134] 14 wounded (19 April) [135] 7 wounded (21 April) [136] 19 wounded (22 April) [137] 6 wounded (23 April) [138] 9 wounded (25 April) [139] 12 wounded (26 April) [140] 3 wounded (27 April) [141] 2 wounded (28 April) [142] 5 wounded (29 April) [143] 8 wounded (1 May) [144] 8 wounded (2 May) [145] 1 wounded (3 May) [146] 5 wounded (6 May) [147] 5 wounded (8 May) [148] 10 wounded (10 May) [149] 4 wounded (13 May) [150] 5+ wounded (19 May) [151] 3 wounded (20 May) [152] 3 wounded (24 May) [153] 19 wounded (26 May) [154] 4 wounded (30 May) [155] 14 wounded (31 May) [156] 1 wounded (2 June) [157] 1 wounded (5 June) [158] 3 wounded (7 June) [159] 6 wounded (8 June) [160] 28 wounded (9 June) [161] 2 wounded (13 June) [162] 3 wounded (14 June) [163] 10 wounded (20 June) [164] 16 wounded (21 June) [165] 9 wounded (22 June) [166] 22 wounded (27 June) [167] 6 wounded (28 June) [168] 9 wounded (29 June) [169] 5 wounded (30 June) [170] 5 wounded (7 July) [171] 31 wounded (11 July)[172]
  245. ^ "Over 1,000 Civilians Killed During Russian Occupation of Izyum". 13 September 2022.
  246. ^ https://english.nv.ua/nation/fierce-fighting-around-luhansk-region-leaves-six-civilians-dead-russia-invasion-of-ukraine-50244033.html Archived 21 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [173] Archived 8 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [174] Archived 22 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [175] Archived 23 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [176] [177] Archived 23 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [178] Archived 29 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine [179] Archived 23 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [180] Archived 24 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine [181] Archived 15 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [182] Archived 15 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [183] Archived 16 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [184] Archived 17 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [185] Archived 21 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine [186] Archived 26 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine [187] Archived 29 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine[188] [189] [190] [191]
  247. ^ "600 injured in recent bombing of Azovstal steel plant, Mariupol mayor says". 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  248. ^ "The overview of the current social and humanitarian situation in the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic as a result of hostilities in the period 04 and 11 November 2022".
  249. ^ "LPR mission reveals total number of casualties due to Ukrainian shelling since escalation". TASS. Retrieved 13 October 2022.


Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Donbas_(2022)&oldid=1251927499"