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

An aerial photo of destroyed Marinka in March 2023
Date20 February 2022 – present
(1 year, 8 months, 2 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Marinka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Status

Ongoing

  • Marinka "largely destroyed" by shelling and bombing[1]
  • City completely evacuated of civilian residents by November 2022[1][2]
  • Russian forces reportedly capture the city on 1 December 2023[3]
Belligerents
  Ukraine
Units involved

DPR Armed Forces

 Russian Ground Forces

National Guard of Russia

 Ukrainian Ground Forces

National Guard of Ukraine

The battle of Marinka[9] is an ongoing battle in the city of Marinka between the Armed Forces of Russia and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since 2014 the town was subject of attacks and shelling of the town intensified before the Russian invasion of Ukraine[10] By November 2022, much of the town was destroyed, with no civilians remaining and few buildings left standing from the fighting.[11][2]

Prelude

In June 2015, Marinka was the site of a one-day battle in which Ukrainian forces held back a DPR attack. The city remained on the front line throughout the duration of the war in Donbas.

On 17 February, shelling in Marinka injured a 65-year-old woman.[12][13] Civilians recounted that shelling on this day had begun around 9:30 AM, and ended at 2:30 PM, saying they had heard "at least 20" separate explosions.[12] Shelling intensified in the days leading up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, killing two Ukrainian soldiers and injuring four more.[14]

Battle

On 24 March 2022, Ukrainian officials claimed to have repelled Russian assaults in Marinka.[15]

On 30-31 March 2022, Ukrainian emergency services extinguished "dozens of fires" that had started in the town because of white phosphorus munitions from Russian forces.[16]

In mid-April 2022, during the beginning of the battle of Donbas, Russian and DPR forces ramped up offensive operations, launching multiple attacks on Marinka.[17] On 17 April, one person was killed after Russian forces shelled the city.[18] Two days later on 19 April, Ukrainian forces regained control of Marinka after a failed Russian assault the day prior.[19][20] Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks on the town on 23th April.[19][21]

The ISW reported on 20 May that Russian and DPR forces had refocused their efforts towards Marinka, having allocated additional forces following the end of the siege of Mariupol.[22] Throughout May, southern Marinka shifted between Ukrainian and Russian control as fighting intensified.[23] Further Russian assaults on 25 June were repelled by Ukraine.[24]

Fighting intensified from mid-July through early August, beginning with a failed Russian attack on Marinka on 11 July.[25] Two more assaults occurred on 30 July and 1 August, with little success.[26][27] On 5 August, DPR and Wagner forces claimed to control half of Marinka.[28] Russian forces assaulted Marinka again on 25 August, although made no gains.[29] Throughout August, Russian forces made incremental gains in Marinka.[30] The ISW reported that the frontline in Marinka largely stagnated throughout September.[31] In October, geolocated footage showed Russian troops had advanced around the C051101 highway north of Marinka.[32]

Starting in early November 2022, fighting intensified again with pro-Russian sources claiming marginal gains in the town, although providing no visual evidence.[33] By 13 December, Russian forces controlled 70% of Marinka, with Ukrainian forces controlling the western half of the town past Druzhba Street.[34] DPR president Denis Pushilin claimed that Russian forces would "soon" take control of Marinka.[35] Donetsk Oblast governor Pavlo Kyrylenko stated on 22 December that Marinka and the surrounding areas were "unlivable," and that there was "not a single surviving house."[36] On 24 December, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed to have made gains inside Marinka, although Ukrainian forces are deeply entrenched inside the center of the town.

In January 2023, interviewed Ukrainian soldiers stated that fighting in Marinka was "hellish," and that with virtually no buildings left standing, they were fighting out of basements, rubble, and behind freestanding walls.[37] On 30 January, Ukraine's 79th Brigade claimed it had repelled an infantry assault by a company of Russian troops towards Marinka.[38] On February 8, former Deputy Interior Minister of the Vitaly Kiselev clarified that elements of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division were consolidating positions in parts of western Marinka.[39] According to the Ukrainian General Staff, clashes intensified on February 2 with thirteen battles lasting two hours in Marinka.[40] On February 21, further Russian assaults on Marinka were repelled.[41]

Analysis by the British Ministry of Defence claimed that the effects of the Russian winter offensive were inconclusive in Marinka, with only minimal gains captured despite "expending significant resources."[1] Russian media announced in April that Ukrainian forces were pushed back by the Russian Army to the western outskirts of Marinka, where clashes were ongoing.[42] On April 15, Ukrainian general Oleksandr Tarnavskyi released video of six captured Russian soldiers near Marinka.[43] On 24 May, Ukraine's General Staff said Marinka remained one of the epicenters of ongoing clashes during the war.[44]

On 31 May, Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the Chechen Kadyrovite forces fighting in Ukraine, stated that his forces had been transferred to the Marinka front, including "Akhmat" Special Forces and the "Sever-Akhmat" Special Purpose Regiment.[5] By 13 July, Kadyrov had announced that Chechen forces would be leaving Marinka for different sectors of the front line.[6]

Ukrainian soldiers on the front in Marinka in June claimed that Russian soldiers outnumbered Ukrainians 4:1 in manpower, and 6:1 in artillery.[45] Most battles took place at close range, and in basements.[46] Later in June, Russian troops were seen using unmanned VBIEDs using older armored vehicles to conduct attacks on Ukrainian troops in Marinka.[47]

It was reported on 13 July 2023, that Ukrainian forces had captured a Russian-held position in the "Zverinets" fortifications near Marinka.[6] Around this time, Russian forces intensified attacks on the settlement.[48]

Hanna Maliar, the then-deputy defense minister of Ukraine, stated that the Russians were on the offensive in Marinka in September.[49] Russian assaults on the town continued into November, with an unknown level of success.[50]

Pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian sources reported that Marinka had been fully captured by Russian troops on 1 December, but this was unverifiable at the time.[51][3]

Humanitarian impact

All of Marinka was destroyed in the fighting.[34][52][1] By May 2022, the Marinka town square was completely destroyed, the gilded dome of the local church was partially melted, and the Marinka cultural centre was destroyed.[53] The primary school of the city, Marinka school No.1, and the nearby youth center, were destroyed sometime before 15 April 2022, with only one wall left standing.[11][54] The police chief, Artem Schus, stated that every building in the city was damaged.[55]

On 3 November 2022, Ukraine claimed to have evacuated the civilian population of Marinka, totaling around 9,400 people pre-war.[2] Evacuation efforts were done by Ukrainian paramedic group White Angels.[56] This was corroborated by Schus, who claimed living in the city was impossible.[55]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kika, Thomas (2023-04-10). "Russia sacrifices resources for "minimal" gains in city with key road: U.K." Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  2. 1 2 3 "Civilians evacuated from Marinka, Donetsk Oblast". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  3. 1 2 "Ukraine Situation Report: "We Did Not Achieve The Desired Results," Zelensky Says". The Drive. 1 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 16, 2023".
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Kadyrov's troops likely ordered to pick up where Wagner left off – ISW". Euromaidan Press. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Bailey, Riley; Hird, Karolina; Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Evans, Angelica; Harward, Christina; Clark, Mason. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 14, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Close Combat Marks 'Hellish' Battle at Ukraine's Marinka". 24 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 Sarovic, Alexander (10 May 2022). "The Elite Ukrainian Soldiers Defending the Donbas". Spiegel International.
  9. ↑ Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com). "Russia-Ukraine updates: Heavy fighting reported on the outskirts of Donetsk | News | DW | 04.08.2022". DW. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  10. ↑ "'They shoot, we hide': Life amid shelling on Ukraine's front line". 20 February 2023.
  11. 1 2 ""Рускій мір" прийшов до школи у Мар'їнці: фото до та після". Апостроф (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  12. 1 2 "Ukraine: Shelling Residential Areas Puts Civilians at Risk". Human Rights Watch. 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  13. ↑ "Ukraine crisis: Marinka hopes for peace but does not expect miracles". Sky News. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  14. ↑ Cookman, Liz. "'They shoot, we hide': Life amid shelling on Ukraine's front line". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  15. ↑ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  16. ↑ "Invaders use phosphorous munitions in Marinka". ukrinform.net. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  17. ↑ "Ukraine Defiant As Russia Launches Massive Offensive In East". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  18. ↑ "На Донеччині за день від рук окупантів загинуло двоє мирних мешканців, – Кириленко". РБК-Украина (in Russian). Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  19. 1 2 "Українські військові відновили контроль над Мар'їнкою на Донбасі". РБК-Украина (in Russian). Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  20. ↑ Midttun, Hans Petter (April 18, 2022). "Russo-Ukrainian war, day 54: Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast, all EU ports closed for Russian ships". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Russian troops attempt to speed up the offensive in eastern Ukraine – General Staff". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  22. ↑ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 21". Critical Threats.
  23. ↑ "Dodging shells, mines and spies: On the front with Ukraine's snipers". Washington Post. 2022-05-21. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  24. ↑ "Ukraine Army repulses all offensive and assault actions near Pokrovske, New York and Marinka". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  25. ↑ "Ukraine's Armed Forces repulse another offensive near Marinka, forcing Russians to flee". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  26. ↑ "Ukrainian army repulses invaders' attack on Pisky and Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  27. ↑ "Ukraine's Armed Forces neutralize Russian recon group near Mazanivka, prevent enemy advance towards Marinka". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  28. ↑ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 5". Critical Threats.
  29. ↑ "Russo-Ukraine War - 25 August 2022". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  30. ↑ "Enemy advancing toward Marinka and Pisky – Ukraine's General Staff". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  31. ↑ Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com). "Russia-Ukraine updates: Heavy fighting reported on the outskirts of Donetsk | News | DW | 04.08.2022". DW. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  32. ↑ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 19". Critical Threats. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  33. ↑ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 22. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2022".
  34. 1 2 "Мар'їнка на 70% окупована росіянами. Українські захисники продовжують утримувати частину міста". Кумa.City (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  35. ↑ "Donetsk pro-Russian authorities say they will «soon» take control of the town of Marinka". MSN. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  36. ↑ Свобода, Радіо (20 December 2022). "«Немає жодного вцілілого будинку» – Кириленко про Мар'їнку, Красногорівку, Авдіївку". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  37. ↑ AFP, Staff Writer With (2023-01-24). "Close Combat Marks 'Hellish' Battle at Ukraine's Marinka". The Defense Post. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  38. ↑ "Paratroopers repel enemy assault on several positions near Marinka". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  39. ↑ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  40. ↑ "Situation in Donbas difficult, 13 armed conflicts near Marinka Defense Forces". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  41. ↑ "Paratroopers show how they repelled night assault of occupiers near Marinka". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  42. ↑ "Positions of Russian troops improved in Ugledar, Maryinka directions — DPR head". tass.com. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  43. ↑ "Tavriia Group of Forces releases video showing Russian prisoners of war captured near Marinka". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  44. ↑ "Bakhmut and Marinka remain in epicentre of hostilities – General Staff". Yahoo! News. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  45. ↑ Gettleman, Jeffrey; O’Reilly, Finbarr (2023-06-13). "Every Block Is Another Battle: Ukraine's Latest Eastern Stand". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  46. ↑ Gettleman, Jeffrey; O’Reilly, Finbarr (2023-06-13). "Every Block Is Another Battle: Ukraine's Latest Eastern Stand". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  47. ↑ Axe, David. "The Russians Are Turning Old Vehicles Into Rolling Bombs. The Ukrainians Are Trying To Spot Them Before They Explode". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  48. ↑ "Enemy aims to seize Marinka: Russians continue assaults, fierce battles raging in east". www.ukrinform.net. 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  49. ↑ "Situation in Marinka and Avdiivka escalates, Russians are on offensive – Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister". Yahoo News. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  50. ↑ "Ukrainian defence forces repel largest number of assaults on Avdiivka and Marinka fronts – General Staff report". Yahoo News. 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  51. ↑ Семенов, Фрол (2023-12-01). "Российская армия освободила город Марьинка в ДНР - карта". ИСКРА (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  52. ↑ ІА «Вчасно» (2022-09-01). "ВІДЕО. Від міста майже нічого не лишилося: зруйновану Мар'їнку показали з висоти пташиного польоту — ІА «Вчасно»". vchasnoua.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  53. ↑ Sarovic, Alexander (2022-05-10). "Staryna's Mission: The Elite Ukrainian Soldiers Defending the Donbas". Der Spiegel. ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  54. ↑ Нужненко, Сергій. "Мар'їнка: ситуація в місті, що неподалік Донецька, зараз (фотосвідчення)". Радіо Свобода (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  55. 1 2 Ankel, Sophia. "Before-and-after photos show how Russia's invasion reduced a Ukrainian city to a post-apocalyptic wasteland". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  56. ↑ "Евакуаційні групи "Білих янголів" запрацювали на всій лінії бойових дій Донеччини". Кумa.City (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-09.

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