Offensive on Mariupol (September 2014)

In late August and early September 2014, rebels supporting the Donetsk People's Republic advanced on the government-controlled port city of Mariupol in southern Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine which it had controlled between May and June. This followed a wide offensive by DPR/Novorossiya forces, which led to their capture of Novoazovsk to the east. Fighting reached the outskirts of Mariupol on 6 September.

Offensive on Mariupol
Part of the War in Donbass

Ukrainian troops on patrol in Mariupol, 5 September 2014.
Date4–8 September 2014
(4 days)
Location
Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Result Novoazovsk captured by pro-Russian forces
Ceasefire
Belligerents
 Ukraine  Donetsk People's Republic
Commanders and leaders
Petro Poroshenko
Andriy Biletsky		 Alexander Zakharchenko
Units involved

Armed Forces of Ukraine:

Internal Affairs Ministry:

 Donbass People's Militia
Strength
7 tanks
12+ APCs
10+ trucks[1]
500 infantry		 30+ tanks
Casualties and losses
3 tanks destroyed
1 truck destroyed
1 tank abandoned[2][3]		 2 tanks destroyed
2 trucks destroyed or abandoned[4][5]
8 civilians killed[3][6]

Events

Rebel Advance

The offensive against Mariupol[7] began on 28 August 2014, when rebel forces captured the town of Novoazovsk. The Ukrainian soldiers that left Novoazovsk retreated to Mariupol. Many citizens left Mariupol due to fear of an attack.

On 4 September, Ukrainian forces engaged rebels, who came from the village of Bezimenne, between the villages of Shirokino and Berdyanske.[8] One rebel tank and a truck were destroyed, while another separatist truck was left abandoned.[4][9]

On 5 September, fighting primarily raged in the village of Shirokino, while clashes once again took place at Bezimenne. The clashes over the previous two days had left seven civilians dead.[6] Also, the Azov battalion started to train Mariupol citizens in self-defense and organize popular militias to defend the city.[10] About a dozen of Ukrainian army APCs arrived with men and ammo to help the defense battalions to defend the city. More heavy fighting was reported in Mariupol despite the ceasefire agreement. Ukrainian forces shelled rebel positions near Mariupol, and claimed to have repelled an attack. Rebel forces claimed they entered Mariupol, which Ukraine denied.[11]

Fighting in the outskirts

On 5 September, seven Ukrainian Army T-64 tanks reputedly faced in battle 30 tanks, allegedly Russian T-80s. The Ukrainians repelled the attack but lost four tanks and retreated with the three remaining to the Army checkpoint on the outskirts of Mariupol. The commander of the Ukrainian tank brigade was in a state of post-shock but the three surviving tanks were reloaded with ammunition so they could return to the battlefield.[12]

On 7 September, DPR artillery fire destroyed a Ukrainian military truck at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the town. A civilian was also killed in the shelling.[3] The Azov Battalion also captured a tank near Mariupol, while the crew escaped.[5] The same day, it was confirmed DPR forces had captured Shirokino.[13]

On 8 September, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited Mariupol, telling steelworkers that Ukrainian forces had secured the city with tanks, howitzers, anti-tank guns and other weapons should the rebels violate the ceasefire. He also promised a "crushing defeat" on the rebels if they advanced on the city.[14]

Aftermath
Mariupol. 2014–2015. Military and political events.

On October 23, 2014, prime minister of the DPR Alexander Zakharchenko vowed to retake the cities it had lost, stating "Periods of intense hostilities will follow. We will retake Slaviansk, Kramatorsk and Mariupol. Unfortunately, it was impossible to make peaceful settlement the focus of negotiations. We are the only ones who comply with the regime of silence."[15]

On October 29, 2014, Mariupol city authorities said that Ukrainian positions in the village of Talakivka came under Grad and rocket fire from rebel forces.[16]

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gollark: It should be a nil check operator.
gollark: no.
gollark: Yes, indeed.
gollark: ¡Brexit means brexit!

See also

References
  1. "Ceasefire Ends as Pro-Russia Forces Shell Ukrainian Tanks: Russian Roulette (Dispatch 77)". YouTube. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  2. "Ukraine ceasefire breached in Donetsk and Mariupol". the Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  3. Lucy Crossley (7 September 2014). "Heavy fighting rocks eastern Ukraine port just hours into ceasefire between government and rebels". Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  4. "ЭКСКЛЮЗИВ! 2 часа назад: Трасса Донецк-Мариуполь горит военная техника! Донецк, Луганск". YouTube. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  5. "The ATO Forces captured a Russian tank near Mariupol". Information Resistance. 7 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014.
  6. "Heavy fighting outside Mariupol despite launch of Ukrainian peace talks". Russia Today. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  7. Aleksandar Vasovic; Gabriela Baczynska (5 September 2014). "Fighting rages between Ukrainian army and rebels despite start of talks". Reuters. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  8. "Militia starts reconnaissance in force near Mariupol". Russia Beyond the Headlines. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  9. Adam Button (4 Sep 2014). "Explosions heard, black plumes of smoke seen just east of Mariupol Port in Ukraine – RTRS witness". news.forexlive.com. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  10. "Azov Battalion trains Mariupol residents in self-defense tactics". KyivPost. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  11. "Ukraine fighting subsides after ceasefire agreement". The Irish Times. Reuters. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  12. Оleh Мysko (6 September 2014). Сім українських танків дали героїчний бій 30-ти російським Т-80 під Маріуполем [Seven Ukrainian tanks battled heroically against 30 Russian T-80 tanks near Mariupol] (in Ukrainian). uapress.info. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  13. Под Широкино концентрируются российские войска [Russian troops are concentrated at Shirokino]. podrobnosti.ua. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  14. Aleksandar Vasovic; Gabriela Baczynska (8 September 2014). "Ukraine president visits frontline city amid 'shaky' ceasefire". Reuters. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  15. "Donetsk Forces Plan to Retake Slaviansk, Kramatorsk, Mariupol". RIA NOVOSTI. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  16. "Mariupol authorities report shelling of Ukrainian positions near town". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
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