Battle of Donbas (2022) explained
Conflict: | Battle of Donbas |
Partof: | the eastern Ukraine campaign of the Russian invasion of Ukraine |
Date: | 18 April 2022 – September 2022 |
Place: | Donbas, Ukraine |
Territory: | Russia and separatist forces capture the cities of Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Svitlodarsk,[1] Lyman,[2] Sviatohirsk,[3] all remaining Luhansk Oblast cities, and many villages. |
Result: | Inconclusive |
Combatant1: | Donetsk People's Republic Luhansk People's Republic |
Combatant2: | Ukraine |
Units1: | See order of battle |
Units2: | See order of battle |
Strength1: | 55,000–70,000 |
Strength2: | 40,000–50,000 |
Casualties3: | ~5,154+ civilians killed, 5,605+ wounded Reports vary widely. See Casualties for more details. |
The battle of Donbas[4] [5] 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.[6] [7] [8] Military analysts consider the campaign to have been the second strategic phase of the invasion, after Russia's initial three-pronged attack into Ukraine.[9] [10]
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).[11] [12] Russia claimed to have controlled 55% of Donetsk Oblast by 23 June 2022[13] [14] and all of Luhansk Oblast by 3 July 2022,[15] with Russian and separatist forces controlling the cities of Mariupol,[16] Sievierodonetsk,[17] Lysychansk, Rubizhne,[18] 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.[19] 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
See main article: article and 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.[20]
Prior operations
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.[21] [22] On 21 February 2022, Russia officially recognized the DPR and LPR as sovereign states.[23]
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.[24]
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.[25] 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.[26] [27] The tactical withdrawal of Russian forces from the north was completed by 6 April 2022.[28] [29] 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.[30] [31] [32] [33] After taking Izium, Russian troops then advanced south towards, 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.[34]
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.[35] By 13 April, military analysts expected Russia to imminently launch a "battle for Donbas" as new reinforcements arrived from Russia, Belarus, and northern Ukraine.[36]
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."[37] 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.[38]
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.[39] [40] 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".[41]
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.
On 30 June 2022, ISW assessed that despite Russia's concentration in the east, they still had territorial ambitions beyond Luhansk and Donetsk Oblast.[42] 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.[43] 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,, 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.[44]
Opposing forces and foreign involvement
See also: Combatants of the war in Donbas and Foreign involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russian and pro-Russian forces
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.[45] 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. 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.[46]
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.
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.[47] [48] [49]
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."[50] 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.[51]
Ukrainian forces
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".[52]
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 14 April that Ukrainian forces numbered 44,000 in the Donbas region.[53] [46] On 19 April, the BBC reported that Ukrainian troops in the Donbas numbered 40,000–50,000 men.[54]
Foreign support for Ukraine
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.[55] [56] 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. President Zelenskyy, in his nightly public address, also hailed the impact Western-supplied artillery pieces were reportedly having on Russian logistics and strike capabilities.[57] 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.[58]
Battle
Early operations (April–May 2022)
On the night of 18 April 2022, Russian forces launched an intensive bombardment campaign against positions in Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kharkiv Oblasts.[59] Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the "battle for Donbas" had begun.[60] Russian artillery pounded cities in the Donbas, aiming at destroying critical infrastructure.[61]
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.[62] 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.[63]
Popasna
See also: Battle of Popasna. Large areas of Popasna were occupied during the first week of the battle of Donbas.[64] 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.
In late April, Russian forces were said to be preparing to capture Popasna and advance past it.[65] [66] 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.[67] [68]
Donetsk Oblast
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.[69] Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government stated their forces launched a counterattack and recaptured the town of Marinka.[70] Russian shelling overnight in Donetsk Oblast on 20 April killed two civilians and wounded nine, according to online news sources.[71], in northern Donetsk Oblast was captured by Russian and LPR forces on 23 April,[65] followed by Yatskivka and on 26 April,[72] and Zarichne on 27 April.[66]
Between 22 April and 29 April, 110 DPR servicemen were killed and 451 were injured.[73] 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.[74]
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.[75] [76] Ukrainian officials reported on 25 April that Russian forces were killed in a gas explosion in the Russian-occupied Kreminna City Hall.[77]
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.[65] South of the Seversky Donets river, the Ukrainian military announced that Novotoshkivske fell on 27 April.[66]
Russian forces advanced in Rubizhne between 19 and 20 April.[78] In late April, ISW said that Russian forces were pushing to encircle and fully capture Rubizhne,[66] [72] which fell on 12 May.[79]
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.[80] The Ukrainian armed forces claimed to have destroyed an entire battalion of Russian forces, killing up to 1,000–1,500 soldiers.[81] 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.[82]
According to Ukrainian sources, the Russian military had allegedly planned to capture the entire Luhansk Oblast by 9 May.[83]
Izium–Sloviansk front
Russian forces on the Izium front were reinforced in late April, amid continued attacks toward Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Barvinkove.[65] [66] 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.[72]
Kharkiv Oblast governor Oleh Syniehubov claimed the Ukrainian military launched a counterattack against Russian forces near Izium on 14 May.[84] [85] 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.
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".[86]
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.[86]
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.[87]
Capture of Lyman and Sviatohirsk
Pro-Russian separatist officials announced that their forces had begun an assault on Lyman on 24 May;[88] they captured the city by the 26th[89] [90] or 27th.[91] [92] [93] [94] Ukrainian forces were also reported to have been leaving Sviatohirsk,[95] the last Ukrainian-controlled city north of the Donets river, which fell to Russian and separatist forces by 8 June.[96] [97]
Izium–Sloviansk front
According to the Ukrainian News Agency, Ukrainian soldiers repelled a new assault on Dovhenke on 6 June.[98] [99] 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.
The Ukrainian military frequently reported combat in the areas of Dovhenke, Mazanivka, Krasnopillia, Dolyna, and Bohorodychne throughout June.[100] [101] [102] [103] [104] [105] [106] 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.[107] [108]
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.[109] Despite stiff Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces finally broke through in the Popasna area on 20 May. 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. By 24 May, Russian forces captured the town of Svitlodarsk.[110]
Sievierodonetsk front
On 1 June, Ukraine announced that 7080% of Sieverodonetsk had been captured by Russian forces.[111] On 3 June, Ukraine claimed to have launched a counterattack to take back 20% of the city.[112] On 8 June, however, the Ukrainian Army was pushed back to the outskirts of the city.[113]
With the breakthrough west of Popasna significantly slowed by Ukrainian heavy guns, Russia began an offensive to the northeast of Popasna, aiming to bypass the Siverskyi Donets river and bombard Lysychansk from the south.[114] 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.[114]
Fall of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk
See also: Battle of Toshkivka, Battle of Sievierodonetsk (2022) and Battle of Lysychansk. The Russian military began breaking through in the south by 21 June, seizing Toshkivka[115] and capturing, Myrna Dolyna, and all on 22 June.[116] [117] 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.[118] [119] 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.[120] 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.[121] [122] 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.[123]
Russian forces had fully encircled Hirske and Zolote in their drive north to Lysychansk by 24 June.[124] 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.[125] 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.[126] [127] [128] 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.[129] [130]
On 2–3 July, Russia and LPR separatist forces claimed to have captured and controlled Lysychansk, however Ukrainian officials, including president Volodymyr Zelenskyy,[131] had yet to officially acknowledge the strategic city's capture, only saying there were ongoing fierce clashes for the city.[132] 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.[133] 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.[134] [135] 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.[136] Russian shelling of Sloviansk intensified on 3 July.[137]
Russian operational pause (4–16 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."[138] 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.[139] The UK defence ministry expected the city of Siversk to be the immediate tactical objective of their renewed assault.[140] [141] By 14 July, Haidai said that Russian forces were trying to take Siversk in order to eventually advance on Bakhmut.[142]
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.[143] [144] [145] On 5 July, the mayor of Sloviansk,, urged residents to evacuate the city. "The nearest Russian positions are 7–10 km from the city," said Liakh.[146] The governor of Donetsk Oblast, Pavlo Kyrylenko, urged the 350,000 remaining residents to evacuate the province.[147] 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.[148]
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.[149] [150] 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.[149] A separatist official claimed that Russian forces captured the village of Hryhorivka on 9 July.[151]
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".[152]
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.[153] Sloviansk was both geographically strategic and symbolically significant for its role in the earlier war in Donbas.[154]
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.[155] The next day, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the operational pause had effectively finished.[156]
Renewed assaults in Donetsk Oblast (17 July–6 September 2022)
By 17 July, Russian forces were in control of about 55% of Donetsk Oblast.[157] 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.[158]
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.[159]
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.[160]
Russian assaults near Bakhmut, Soledar, and Siversk
See also: Battle of Bakhmut. 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.[159]
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.[161]
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.[162] The ISW suggested Ukrainian troops likely conducted a "controlled withdrawal" from the Vuhlehirska reservoir area north-west towards Semyhirya.[163] A Ukrainian official confirmed the power plant's capture on 27 July.[164]
On 26 July, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian forces were fighting in the village of Semyhirya, west of the Vuhlehirska power plant.[165] 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.[166]
On 28 July, the Ukrainian General Staff said the Russians made small gains near Soledar and Vershyna.[167] [168] 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.[169] [170] 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.[171]
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.[172]
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.[173] The Ukrainian General Staff also stated that Russian forces had "partial success" along the Vidrodzhennia-Kodema line, about 20 km southeast of Bakhmut.[174]
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.
Russian sources claimed the villages of Volodymyrivka and Stryapivka, located southeast of Soledar, were captured by 9 August.[175] On 10 August, the DPR claimed to have captured Hladosove, west of Travneve.[176]
Russian and allied forces reportedly captured Kodema on 6 September.[177]
Russian assaults near Avdiivka, Pisky, and Marinka
See also: Battle of Pisky. 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.[167] [168] 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.[169] [170] However, the separatists claimed Russian and DPR forces in the Avdiivka area had made significant advances north and east of the city.[178]
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.[174]
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.[179] [180] 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.[181]
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.[182] The ISW assessed that Pisky had been captured by Russian forces by 24 August.[183]
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.[184] 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.[185] [186] 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.[187]
Russian offensives against Bohorodychne and Krasnopillia renewed unsuccessfully on 17 and 18 July, with heavy shelling taking place against the towns and nearby settlements.[188] [189] Shelling resumed again at Bohorodychne, Krasnopillia, and surrounding villages on 21 July.[190] On 26 July, Russian forces began another offensive against Krasnopillia and Bohorodychne, although were again unsuccessful.[191] Attacks restarted again on 31 July, when Russian forces began shelled Bohorodychne, Krasnopillia, and surrounding villages from the Russian-held village of Dmytrivka.[192]
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.[193] The next day, there was heavy Russian bombardment in the area, including in Dovhenke;[194] this continued on 7 August.[195] 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.[196] 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.[197] On 9 August, Arestovych said that "Dovhenke is already behind us, according to some data. We have moved them."[198] That day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Dovhenke and several other villages were being attacked by Russian forces.[199] On 9 August, Ukrainian forces recaptured Mazanivka.[200]
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.[201]
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.[202] Ukrainian forces also managed to capture the villages of Dibrivne and Dmytrivka in these counterattacks.[203]
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.[204]
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.[19] 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.[19]
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.[205] In early November 2022, Russia launched a renewed offensive in northern and southern Donetsk Oblast, especially on the approach to Bakhmut.[206]
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.[207] By early June 2022, up to 200 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 800+ wounded daily in the Donbas.[208] [209] 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.[210]
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.[211]
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.[212] [213]
Civilian casualties
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,[217] whereas the bodies of 44 civilians were recovered from rubble underneath an apartment building in Izium.[218] During the battle of Kreminna, near Rubizhne and Lysychansk,[219] Ukrainian forces lost control amid heavy fighting.[220] 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.[221] The Ukrainian government claimed that over 1,500 civilians were killed in Sievierodonetsk on 26 May.[222] On 10 July, a Russian rocket attack in Chasiv Yar struck a multi-story residential building, killing at least 34 people.[223] [224]
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.[225]
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.[226]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Ukraine latest news: Shelling constant in Severodonetsk as Russian forces advance. BBC News. 23 May 2022 . 1 June 2022. 31 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220531025115/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-61546571. live.
- Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 26 . 26 May 2022 . . 26 May 2022 . 28 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220528172032/https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-26 . live .
- https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-06-14-22/h_94ddfb838c30d67ad29e68beba0b4ce3 Mayor of captured Ukrainian town switches sides
- News: FP Explainers . 20 April 2022 . Battle of Donbas begins: Why Russia has turned its attention to east of Ukraine . Firstpost . 20 April 2022 . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421110736/https://www.firstpost.com/world/battle-of-donbas-begins-why-russia-has-turned-its-attention-to-east-of-ukraine-10577811.html . live .
- Web site: Ponomarenko . Illia . Illia Ponomarenko . 21 April 2022 . EXPLAINER: What to expect from the Battle of the Donbas, Russia's new offensive . 21 April 2022 . Kyiv Independent . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421131449/https://kyivindependent.com/national/explainer-what-to-expect-from-the-battle-of-donbas-russias-new-offensive/ . live .
- Web site: Російські війська розпочали битву за Донбас – Зеленський . 2022-04-19 . Радіо Свобода . uk . 18 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220418210501/https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-donbas-nastup-zelenskyi/31809821.html . live .
- Web site: Зеленский: Битва за Донбасс началась, генералы РФ действуют осторожнее . 2022-04-19 . Украинская правда . ru . 18 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220418224349/https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2022/04/18/7340546/ . live .
- Web site: Битва за Донбасс началась, ничего украинского не отдадим — Зеленский Громадское телевидение . 2022-04-19 . hromadske.ua . 18 April 2022 . ru . 1 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220601063710/https://hromadske.ua/ru/posts/bitva-za-donbass-nachalas-nichego-ukrainskogo-ne-otdadim-zelenskij . live .
- Web site: Ukraine conflict: Russia begins Donbas offensive. 22 April 2022. Thomas. Bullock. Nicholas. Fiorenza. Janes Defence. 24 April 2022. 24 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220424205426/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/air-platforms/latest/ukraine-conflict-russia-begins-donbas-offensive. live.
- Web site: Єрмак: Почалася друга фаза війни, але у ЗСУ все надійно . 2022-04-19 . www.ukrinform.ua . 18 April 2022 . uk . 8 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220508030705/https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3461042-ermak-pocalasa-druga-faza-vijni-ale-u-zsu-vse-nadijno.html . live .
- News: Kirby . Paul . 2022-04-19 . Donbas: Why Russia is trying to encircle Ukraine's east . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-04-22 . 22 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422063727/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60938544 . live .
- Web site: Ellyatt . Holly . 2022-04-20 . Russia and Ukraine's battle for Donbas could decide the war — and it could go either way . 2022-04-22 . CNBC . en . 22 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422040600/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/20/what-happens-next-in-the-russia-ukraine-war-in-donbas-east-ukraine-.html . live .
- Web site: Russia Claims It Has 97% Control of Ukraine's Luhansk Province. VOANews. 7 June 2022. 13 June 2022.
- News: Ukrainian forces now control nearly 45% of Donetsk, says official. BusinessStandard. 23 June 2022. 28 June 2022.
- Web site: 2022-07-03 . Шойгу доложил Путину о взятии под контроль территории ЛНР . 2022-07-03 . www.kommersant.ru . ru.
- News: The Ukrainian authorities declare an end to the combat mission in Mariupol after weeks of Russian siege.. Valerie. Hopkins. Ivan. Nechepurenko. Marc. Santora. The New York Times . 16 May 2022. 17 May 2022. 16 May 2022. https://archive.today/20220516233043/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/16/world/europe/azovstal-mariupol.html. live.
- Web site: Ukraine war: Kyiv orders forces to withdraw from Severodonetsk. BBC News. 24 June 2022.
- Web site: Ukrainian forces lose foothold in eastern town. CNN. 13 May 2022. 17 May 2022. 13 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220513185139/https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-13-22/h_67faa3f08da188441de767341e390737. live.
- News: How the Battle for the Donbas Shaped Ukraine's Success.
- Web site: Conflict-related civilian casualties in Ukraine. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. 8 October 2021. 22 April 2022. 2 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220202172205/https://ukraine.un.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Conflict-related%20civilian%20casualties%20as%20of%2030%20September%202021%20(rev%208%20Oct%202021)%20EN.pdf. live.
- Web site: 2022-02-20 . ru: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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220220224352/https://ria.ru/20220220/evakuatsiya-1773952754.html . 2022-02-20 . 2022-03-16 . RIA Novosti.
- Web site: How Ukraine separatists are mass conscripting anyone of fighting age DW 27.04.2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220519101521/https://www.dw.com/en/how-ukraine-separatists-are-mass-conscripting-anyone-of-fighting-age/a-61608760 . 2022-05-19 . 2022-05-19 . Deutsche Welle . en-GB.
- News: Russia recognizes Ukraine separatist regions as independent states . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220221205402/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60468237 . 21 February 2022 . 21 February 2022 . BBC News. 21 February 2022 .
- News: 7 November 2022 . The agony of not knowing, as Mariupol mass burial sites grow . . 10 Nov 2022.
- Web site: U.S. believes Russia's pullback near Kyiv is "repositioning," not "withdrawal". 30 March 2022. 21 April 2022. 21 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220421211929/https://www.axios.com/russia-ukraine-peace-talks-kyiv-chernihiv-51b577e0-e5b6-4845-9b83-2ccba397015a.html. live.
- Web site: 25 March 2022 . Russia says first phase of Ukraine operation mostly complete, focus now on Donbass . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220325135703/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/russia-says-first-phase-ukraine-134534902.html . 25 March 2022 . 25 March 2022 . Reuters via Yahoo Finance.
- News: Russia claims it has taken 93% of territory of Ukraine's Luhansk region - TASS . 25 March 2022 . 2022-05-21 . . . en-US . 21 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220521230957/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/russia-claims-taken-93-territory-131458454.html . live .
- Web site: Russian troops pull back from areas near Kyiv, Ukrainian officials say. 2 April 2022. 21 April 2022. 21 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220421211421/https://www.euronews.com/2022/04/02/russian-troops-pull-back-from-areas-near-kyiv-ukrainian-officials-say. live.
- Web site: Russia Fully Withdraws From Kyiv Area, U.S. Says—Here's What Could Happen Next . . 21 April 2022 . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421211914/https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2022/04/06/russia-fully-withdraws-from-kyiv-area-us-says-heres-what-could-happen-next/?sh=32543a6a6eb9 . live .
- Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 1 | Institute for the Study of War. understandingwar.org. 2022-06-04. 2022-05-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20220516042101/https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-1. live.
- Web site: The russians are controlling Izyum – General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. mil.in.ua. 2022-06-04. 2022-04-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20220403232857/https://mil.in.ua/en/news/the-russians-are-controlling-izyum-general-staff-of-the-ukrainian-armed-forces/. live.
- News: На Київщині ЗСУ звільнили 15 населених пунктів – зведення Генерального штабу. Радіо Свобода . 2022-04-01 . Свобода . Радіо .
- Web site: The russians are controlling Izyum – General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
- Web site: Rob Picheta. The fight for Sloviansk may be 'the next pivotal battle' of Russia's war in Ukraine. 2022-04-06. 2024-04-08. CNN.
- Web site: Russia 'repositioning' in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region: US. www.aljazeera.com. 21 April 2022. 2 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220502214811/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/11/russia-repositioning-in-ukraines-eastern-donbas-region-us. live.
- Web site: Looming battle in Donbas to shape course of Russia's war in Ukraine. 2022-04-13. 2024-04-08. Reuters.
- News: Stepanov . Anatoly . 2022-04-19 . New 'Phase' of Ukraine War as Russia Attacks East . 2022-04-21 . The Moscow Times . en . AFP . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421000954/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/04/19/new-phase-of-ukraine-war-as-russia-attacks-east-a77400 . live .
- Web site: Volodymyr Zelensky confirme que l'offensive russe dans l'est de l'Ukraine a commencé . 2022-04-19 . BFMTV . fr . 19 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419082808/https://www.bfmtv.com/international/en-direct-guerre-en-ukraine-kiev-accuse-les-russes-de-vouloir-detruire-le-donbass-situation-inhumaine-a-marioupol_LN-202204180018.html . live .
- News: Hubenko . Dmytro . 22 April 2022 . Russia eyes route to Trans-Dniester: What do we know? . . 22 April 2022 . 27 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220427005207/https://www.dw.com/en/russia-eyes-route-to-trans-dniester-what-do-we-know/a-61559127 . live .
- News: 22 April 2022 . Russia plans to seize Donbas, southern Ukraine: Military official . Al Jazeera . 22 April 2022 . 26 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220426223729/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/22/russia-says-it-plans-to-seize-donbas-southern-ukraine . live .
- Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2022-04-22 . Institute for the Study of War . en . 25 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220325065358/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-24 . live .
- Web site: desk . The Kyiv Independent news . 2022-06-30 . Institute for the Study of War: Russia still has territorial ambitions beyond Donbas. . 2022-07-13 . The Kyiv Independent.
- News: 3 July 2022 . The LPR announced its need to move the Ukrainian army 300 kilometers from the borders of the Republic . donetsk.kp.ru . 9 July 2022.
- News: 4 July 2022 . LPR Ambassador: "We have no intent to tolerate the toxic Ukrainian regime". . vz.ru . 5 July 2022.
- Web site: Defense Official: Russia Adds 11 Battalion Tactical Groups in Ukraine. U.S. Department of Defense. 18 April 2022. David. Vergun. 21 April 2022. 21 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220421220758/https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3002606/defense-official-russia-adds-11-battalion-tactical-groups-in-ukraine/. live.
- Web site: EXPLAINER: What to expect from the battle of the Donbas, Russia's new offensive. 21 April 2022. 21 April 2022. 21 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220421131449/https://kyivindependent.com/national/explainer-what-to-expect-from-the-battle-of-donbas-russias-new-offensive/. live.
- Web site: Russia deploys up to 20,000 mercenaries in battle for Ukraine's Donbas region. 19 April 2022. 20 April 2022. The Guardian. 19 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220419180949/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/19/russia-deployed-20000-mercenaries-ukraine-donbas-region. live.
- Web site: Russia is deploying up to 20,000 Syrian, Libyan, and Wagner Group mercenaries in the Donbas, European official says. 19 April 2022. 21 April 2022. Insider. 20 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220420071240/https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-using-20000-mercenaries-including-libyans-syrians-official-says-2022-4. live.
- News: Russia pours in more troops and presses attack in the east. Adam Schrek. 19 April 2022. 21 April 2022. Associated Press. 19 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220419134618/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-kyiv-world-news-europe-61ac8636ddb2d75a6df4605492889d7b. live.
- Web site: 12 April 2022 . Ukraine: the battle for Donbas will be protracted and bloody – military expert . . 26 April 2022 . 1 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220601063712/https://theconversation.com/ukraine-the-battle-for-donbas-will-be-protracted-and-bloody-military-expert-180988 . live .
- Web site: 25 April 2022 . Ukraine: Facing the Russian Army on the front line in Donbas . BBC . 26 April 2022 . 26 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220426103705/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61217528 . live .
- Web site: 24 April 2022 . The battle for Donbas: 'the real test of this war' . Financial Times . 26 April 2022 . 26 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220426103703/https://www.ft.com/content/f299cb83-9f12-484b-8839-12ec96c87a72 . live .
- Web site: Ukrainian combat group in Donbass numbers 44,000 troops, says Zelensky . 23 April 2022 . 16 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220416180942/https://tass.com/world/1438185 . live .
- Web site: Ukraine war: Russia bombards cities as eastern offensive begins. 19 April 2022. 20 April 2022. BBC News. 19 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220419010115/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61145578. live.
- News: 4 July 2022 . US rockets blow up a Russian ammo depot in Donetsk Oblast in a fierce response to Putin's forces capturing the region . LondonLovesBusiness . 5 July 2022.
- News: 4 July 2022 . Massive Explosion as Russian Ammo Warehouse Hit in Donetsk Region . Newsweek . 5 July 2022.
- News: 6 July 2022 . 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 . 7 July 2022.
- Web site: Ukraine war: West's modern weapons halt Russia's advance in Donbas . Andrew Harding . BBC. 28 July 2022. 28 July 2022.
- Web site: Massive Bombardment Signals Russia's Renewed Offensive In Eastern Ukraine . . 21 April 2022 . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421215332/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/04/18/massive-bombardment-signal-russias-renewed-offensive-in-eastern-ukraine/?sh=7b7681eb4236 . live .
- Web site: Zelensky declares battle for Donbas has begun. 18 April 2022. The Washington Examiner. Misty. Severy. 21 April 2022. 21 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220421015251/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/zelensky-declares-battle-for-donbas-has-begun. live.
- Web site: Вночі ворог здійснив ракетний обстріл Краматорська . 2022-04-19 . www.ukrinform.ua . 18 April 2022 . uk . 19 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419133452/https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-regions/3460330-vnoci-rosijski-vijska-zdijsnili-raketnij-obstril-kramatorska.html . live .
- Web site: Битва за Донбас розпочалася, нічого українського не віддамо — Зеленський Громадське телебачення . 2022-04-19 . hromadske.ua . 18 April 2022 . uk . 19 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419082437/https://hromadske.ua/posts/bitva-za-donbas-rozpochalasya-nichogo-ukrayinskogo-ne-viddamo-zelenskij . live .
- Web site: Голова Луганської ОВА: Часу на роздуми нема – виїжджайте, бо уб'ють . 2022-04-19 . Українська правда . uk . 19 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419082947/https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/04/19/7340602/ . live .
- News: "Люди гибнут даже в укрытиях" – глава военной администрации Попасной . 2022-04-21 . Радіо Свобода . 20 April 2022 . uk . 8 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220508030729/https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/situaciya-v-popasniy/31812758.html . live .
- Web site: 24 April 2022 . RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, APRIL 24 . Institute for the Study of War . 24 April 2022 . 24 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220424213208/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-24 . live .
- Web site: 26 April 2022 . Russia-Ukraine live news: Russian troops seize eastern towns – Russia seizes two towns in Donbas: Ukraine military . . 27 April 2022 . 3 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220503165401/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/26/russia-warns-poland-bulgaria-it-will-cut-off-gas-supplies-liveblog . live .
- Web site: 7 May 2022 . Military correspondent Kotenok about the capture of Popasna: returned to the LPR . en . 7 May 2022 . 1 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220601063711/https://mailbd.net/news/military-correspondent-kotenok-about-the-capture-of-popasna-returned-to-the-lpr-4145/ . live .
- Web site: 8 May 2022 . Ukraine troops retreat from Popasna, Luhansk governor confirms . . 8 May 2022 . 8 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220508115351/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/chechnyas-kadyrov-says-his-soldiers-control-popasna-ukraine-disagrees-2022-05-08/ . live .
- News: 21 April 2022 . Ukraine official: Russia captured 42 villages in Donetsk region on Thursday . Reuters . 21 April 2022 . 3 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220503135236/https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine-official-russia-captured-42-villages-donetsk-region-thursday-2022-04-21/ . live .
- News: Ukraine resists Russia's invasion. Day 55: Russia begins assault on Donbas, bombed-out Azovstal, Ukraine retakes Maryinka . Ukraine Crisis Media Center . 22 April 2022 . 20 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220420104736/https://uacrisis.org/en/ukraine-resists-russia-s-invasion-day-55-russia-begins-assault-on-donbas-bombed-out-azovstal-ukraine-retakes-maryinka . live .
- Web site: 21 April 2022 . Оккупанты 20 апреля обстреляли восемь населенных пунктов Донецкой области, есть погибший и пострадавшие – МВД . ru . 24 April 2022 . 24 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220424234434/https://gordonua.com/news/war/okkupanty-20-aprelya-obstrelyali-vosem-naselennyh-punktov-doneckoy-oblasti-est-pogibshiy-i-postradavshie-mvd-1605585.html . live .
- Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 26. 2022-04-26. 2024-04-08. Institute for the Study of War. Kagan. Frederick W.. Stepanenko. Kateryna. Hird. Karolina.
- Web site: 29 April 2022 . 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 . en . 29 April 2022 . 1 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220501093001/https://eng.ombudsman-dnr.ru/the-overview-of-the-current-social-and-humanitarian-situation-in-the-territory-of-the-donetsk-peoples-republic-as-a-result-of-hostilities-in-the-period-from-23-to-29-april-2022/ . live .
- News: War in Ukraine: Heavy pounding on Donbas front with Russian army advancing whatever the cost . 2022-05-25 . Le Monde.fr . 24 May 2022 . en . 26 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220526014501/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/05/24/war-in-ukraine-heavy-pounding-on-donbas-front-with-russian-army-advancing-whatever-the-cost_5984557_4.html . live .
- Web site: Russia's Donbas offensive advances with fall of Kreminna . . 2022-04-19 . 2022-05-31.
- Web site: 2022-04-19 . Russian forces capture first city in battle for Donbas . 2022-04-21 . . en . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421160634/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/19/russian-forces-capture-first-city-battle-donbas-kreminna . live .
- Web site: Luhansk Military Administration: Russian occupiers and their collaborators die in an explosion in Kreminna City Hall . Pravda.com.ua . 2022-04-25 . 2022-05-31 . 2022-05-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220530221510/https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/04/25/7342040/index.amp . live .
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, APRIL 20 . 2022-04-21 . Institute for the Study of War . en . 20 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220420225829/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-20 . live .
- Web site: 13 May 2022 . Ukrainian forces lose foothold in eastern town . CNN . 13 May 2022 . 13 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220513185139/https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-13-22/h_67faa3f08da188441de767341e390737 . live .
- News: Bloody river battle was third in three days – Ukraine official . BBC News . 13 May 2022 . 13 May 2022 . 27 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220527023840/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61399440 . live .
- News: Parker . Charlie . Russian battalion wiped out trying to cross river of death . . en . 2022-05-13 . 0140-0460 . 14 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220514041538/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russian-battalion-devastated-as-it-crosses-river-989vvnj9v . live .
- News: Growing evidence of a military disaster on the Donets pierces a pro-Russian bubble. Anton. Troianovski. Marc. Santora. The New York Times. 15 May 2022. 16 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220516030015/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/15/world/europe/pro-russian-war-bloggers-kremlin.html. 16 May 2022.
- Web site: На Луганщині точаться бої за Воєводівку, Тошківку та Нижнє . Укрінформ . 2022-05-10 . 2022-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220613173918/https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3479492-na-lugansini-tocatsa-boi-za-voevodivku-toskivku-ta-nizne.html . live .
- Web site: 2022-05-15 . Ukraine wages counter attack against Russian forces in east . 2022-05-15 . Sydney Morning Herald . en . 16 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220516080509/https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/ukraine-wages-counter-attack-against-russian-forces-in-east-20220515-p5alea.html . live .
- Web site: 2022-05-14 . Ukraine wages counter attack against Russian forces in east . 2022-05-15 . Reuters . en.
- Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 15 . 16 May 2022 . Critical Threats.
- Web site: 2022-05-27 . Russia's 'cauldron' tactic may be tipping Donbas battle in its favour . 2022-06-02 . The Guardian . en.
- Web site: Пушилин заявил о начале штурма города Красный Лиман в Донецкой области. ru. RBK Group. 24 May 2022. 23 June 2024.
- News: 2022-05-27 . Russia squeezes Ukrainian strongholds in eastern Donbas region . 2022-05-27 . . . en . 28 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220528195953/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russia-squeezes-ukrainian-strongholds-in-eastern-donbas-region . live .
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, MAY 26. Institute for the Study of War. 26 May 2022. 27 May 2022. 28 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220528172032/https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-26. live.
- Web site: Latest Developments in Ukraine: May 27 . 27 May 2022 . 2022-05-28 . . en . 28 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220528164138/https://www.voanews.com/a/latest-developments-in-ukraine-may-27/6591796.html . live .
- Web site: Russia seeking to capture Ukraine's Lyman: separatist leader. 25 May 2022. 26 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220526032910/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/russia-seeking-to-capture-ukraines-lyman-separatist-leader/news-story/501ab08e54c87aeb68daa4e4dbe6e4ef. live.
- Web site: 26 May 2022 . Russian forces have 'upper hand' in Donbas fighting, Ukrainian officials say . . 26 May 2022 . 28 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220528225247/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/26/ukraine-burying-civilians-mass-graves-russia-advances . live .
- Web site: Russia captures strategically important town ahead of 'next stage' of Ukraine invasion: UK intelligence. news.yahoo.com. 2022-06-01. 2022-05-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20220530172019/https://news.yahoo.com/russia-captures-strategically-important-town-183825491.html. live.
- Web site: RID Rivista Italiana Difesa . 2022-05-22 . www.rid.it . it . 12 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512085122/https://www.rid.it/shownews/4938 . live .
- Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2022-06-09 . RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 8 . en.
- Web site: Частина Святогірська під окупацією, ДБР розслідує можливу держзраду мера - чим це загрожує. uk. 9 June 2022.
- Web site: Russian Troops Trying To Advance In Direction Of Dovhenke Of Kharkiv Region - AFU . 6 June 2022 . Ukrainian News.
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 6 . 6 June 2022 . Institute for the Study of War.
- Web site: Armed Forces of Ukraine are killing the invaders on all fronts, the battle for Sievierodonetsk continues - the General Staff report . 12 June 2022 . Yahoo News. 12 June 2022 .
- Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2022-07-19 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
- Web site: Russian troops attempt to capture Bohorodychne but are repelled by Ukrainian Armed Forces – General Staff report .
- Web site: Operational information from the regions of the Active Community Network June 30, 2022 .
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 25 . 25 June 2022 . Institute for the Study of War.
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 29 . 29 June 2022 . Institute for the Study of War.
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 30 . 30 June 2022 . Institute for the Study of War.
- News: Gall . Carlotta . Lima . Mauricio . 2022-07-08 . As Russia Looms, a Ukrainian City's Loyalties Divide . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-07-23 . 0362-4331.
- Web site: Terajima . Asami . 2022-07-06 . Sloviansk under heavy fire as Russia's war enters new phase . 2022-07-23 . The Kyiv Independent.
- Web site: Russia advances in eastern Ukraine as Zelenskyy says Donbas turning into 'hell'. NBC News. 20 May 2022. 20 May 2022. 20 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220520220113/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-advances-luhansk-zelenskyy-donbas-hell-eastern-ukraine-rcna29767. live.
- Web site: Donetsk region: occupying forces capture Svitlodarsk. 2022-05-24. Yahoo News. 24 May 2022 . en. 24 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220524213753/https://news.yahoo.com/donetsk-region-occupying-forces-capture-133430234.html. live.
- Web site: 1 June 2022. Ukrainian official says about 80% of Severodonetsk is occupied by Russian forces . CNN . en . 2 June 2022.
- Web site: 4 June 2022. Ukraine has retaken about 20% of territory lost in Sievierodonetsk -regional head . Reuters . en . 4 June 2022.
- Web site: 8 June 2022 . Russia-Ukraine war: Russian bombardment of Sievierodonetsk 'pushes Ukrainian troops back to city's outskirts' – live . The Guardian.
- Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2022-06-23 . Institute for the Study of War . en . 25 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220325065358/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-24 . dead .
- Web site: Russia has captured Donbas frontline village Toshkivka: Ukraine . 2022-06-23 . www.geo.tv . en.
- News: 2022-06-21 . Russian forces capture several more settlements in Ukraine's Luhansk region . en . Reuters . 2022-06-23.
- Web site: 2 more Luhansk settlements fall to Russia as pressure builds on Lysychansk . . 23 June 2022 .
- https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-23 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 23
- https://warsawinstitute.org/russia-potential-plan-smash-ukrainian-stronghold-luhansk-region/ Russia Has Potential Plan To Smash Ukrainian Stronghold In Luhansk Region
- Web site: Russia urges Ukrainian fighters in Severodonetsk to lay down arms . 2022-06-23 . www.aljazeera.com . en.
- Web site: Ukraine's Armed Forces make enemy offensive near Mykolaivka stall . 2022-06-23 . www.ukrinform.net . 15 June 2022 . en.
- Web site: General Staff Summary: Russians want to establish control over Bohorodychne and launch an offensive on Sloviansk . 2022-06-23 . news.yahoo.com . 14 June 2022 . en-US.
- News: 2022-06-23 . Ukrainian troops may pull back from Lysychansk front line to avoid encirclement -governor . en . Reuters . 2022-06-23.
- Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2022-06-25 . Institute for the Study of War . en . 25 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220325065358/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-24 . dead .
- https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/15016779 Военная операция на Украине
- Web site: Ukrainian troops told to leave Severodonetsk: governor . 2022-06-24 . PolskieRadio.pl.
- News: Ukrainians Retreat From Key Areas Of Eastern Region As Fighting Enters Fifth Month . 2022-06-24 . RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty . en.
- https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-06-25/mayor-says-ukrainian-troops-have-almost-left-sievierodonetsk Mayor Says Ukrainian Troops Have 'Almost Left' Sievierodonetsk
- News: Enemy attempting to encircle Ukrainian troops near Lysychansk. 1 July 2022. Ukrinform.net.
- News: Ukraine-Russia War: Russian missile strike kills 18 in Odesa – ministry. The Jerusalem Post. 1 July 2022.
- News: There is risk of Luhansk Region being seized, but Lysychansk not under enemy control yet – Zelensky. 3 July 2022. Ukrinform.
- News: Russian forces claim to take control over Lysychansk, Ukraine's last holdout in Luhansk region. CNN. 3 July 2022.
- Web site: Stepanenko . Kateryna . Hird . Karolina . Kagan . Frederick W. . 2 July 2022 . Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 2 . 2 July 2022 . Institute for the Study of War.
- Web site: Report of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation on the territory of Ukraine. 3 July 2022. Telegram.
- Web site: ВС РФ овладели Белогоровкой и водрузили на здании администрации Знамя Победы, сообщает Минобороны. 3 July 2022. Telegram.
- News: Russia claims control of pivotal eastern Ukrainian province. 3 July 2022. 4 July 2022. Daily Independent. 10 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220710153857/https://www.dailyindependent.com/region/russia-claims-control-of-pivotal-eastern-ukrainian-province/article_f487bcf7-e5ba-522a-8a45-49e7585e7569.html. dead.
- News: Splintered Ukrainian city braces for new battle with Russia. Associated Press. 3 July 2022. 4 July 2022.
- Web site: Ukraine war: What is Putin's plan now Luhansk has fallen?. Joe. Inwood. BBC News. 4 July 2022. 9 August 2022.
- News: 7 July 2022 . Russia taking 'operational pause' in Ukraine, analysts say . Maria Grazia. Murru. Oleksandr. Stashevskyi. ABC News. AP. 9 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220715103153/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-taking-operational-pause-ukraine-analysts-86356546. 2022-07-15.
- News: 8 July 2022 . UK says Russia concentrating for attack on Ukraine's city of Siversk . Yahoo News .
- Web site: Ukrainian Troops Dig In at New Front Line in Bid to Stop Russian Advance . 2022-12-12 . VOA . en . 2022-07-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220712015503/https://www.voanews.com/a/ukrainian-troops-dig-in-at-new-front-line-in-bid-to-stop-russian-advance-/6651216.html . live .
- Web site: Beecher . Jay . 2022-07-14 . Russian Invaders Attempt to Break Through to Siversk to Open Way to Bakhmut - Kyiv Post - Ukraine's Global Voice . 2022-12-12 . Kyiv Post . 2022-07-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220714103712/https://www.kyivpost.com/russias-war/russian-invaders-attempt-to-break-through-to-siversk-to-open-way-to-bakhmut.html . live .
- News: The Guardian. Putin declares victory in Luhansk after fall of Lysychansk. 4 July 2022. 5 July 2022.
- News: Ukraine Invasion Day 132: improvise, adapt, overcome. Daily Kos. 4 July 2022. 5 July 2022.
- News: Timeline: Week 19 of Russia's war in Ukraine. Al Jazeera. 7 July 2022. 9 July 2022.
- News: Mayor tells civilians to flee as Russian forces approach; Ukraine warns it will need 'colossal funds' to rebuild. 5 July 2022. CNBC.
- News: 12 killed in Ukraine as Russia pounds rebel-claimed province. Associated Press. 6 July 2022.
- News: Ukraine War: Zelensky orders civilians to evacuate Donetsk region. BBC. 31 July 2022.
- News: Renewed RF assaults in Siversk and Bakhmut sectors, UAF claims Kremlin ammo problems. Kyiv Post. 6 July 2022.
- News: 'No safe place' from Russian artillery as offensive underway in Ukraine's Donetsk. NBC News. 6 July 2022.
- Web site: Gershkovich . Alan Cullison and Evan . Ukraine Braces for Russian Assault on City It Retook After 2014 Revolt . 2022-12-12 . The Wall Street Journal . en-US . 2022-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220716124423/https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-braces-for-russian-assault-on-city-where-it-defeated-2014-revolt-11657367079 . live .
- News: Russian rocket attack on Donetsk apartment block kills 24; Moscow temporarily halts gas flows to Europe. 11 July 2022. CNBC.
- Web site: Росія спробує взяти кілька міст на підступах до Слов'янська і Краматорська, - британська розвідка. 2024-04-08. 2022-07-13. uk. Таня Матяш.
- Web site: 2024-04-09. Ukraine Braces for Russian Assault on City It Retook After 2014 Revolt. The Wall Street Journal. Alan Cullison. Evan Gershkovich. 2022-07-09.
- Web site: 15 July 2022 . Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 15 . Institute for the Study of War . 16 July 2022 . 17 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717015624/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-15 . live .
- Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2022-07-17 . Institute for the Study of War . en . 25 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220325065358/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-24 . dead .
- Web site: Bloody battle for control rages in eastern Ukraine as Russia struggles to gain ground in Donetsk . . 2023-07-09 . 2023-05-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522004404/https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/17/europe/russia-ukraine-donetsk-battle-for-control-intl/index.html . live .
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 26. 26 July 2022. 2022-07-27. Institute for the Study of War.
- Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 20. Institute for the Study of War. 20 July 2022. 21 July 2022. 24 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220924124249/https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-20. live.
- News: Sly . Liz . July 28, 2022 . Ukraine could be turning the tide of war again as Russian advances stall . Washington Post . live . July 28, 2022 . August 11, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220811161616/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/28/ukraine-russia-war-himars-missiles/ .
- News: Russian forces close in on Ukraine's second biggest power plant. The Telegraph. 21 July 2022. 27 July 2022.
- Web site: Russian forces take Vuhlehirska power station under total control. english.pravda.ru. 26 July 2022.
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 25. 25 July 2022. 2022-07-26. Institute for the Study of War.
- Web site: Russian forces capture Ukraine's second biggest power plant, Ukraine says. Natalia Zinets . 27 July 2022. 2022-07-28. Reuters.
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 26. 26 July 2022. 2022-07-26. Institute for the Study of War.
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 27. 27 July 2022. 2022-07-28. Institute for the Study of War.
- News: Invaders Tried To Storm Pisky Wearing AFU Uniform – General Staff. Ukranews. 28 July 2022.
- News: Russian forces make small gains in Donetsk region, Ukrainian military says. CNN. 28 July 2022. 29 July 2022.
- News: Armed Forces of Ukraine neutralise a Russian reconnaissance group on the Sloviansk front General Staff report. Yahoo News. 29 July 2022.
- News: AFU Liquidate Another 270 Invaders And 7 Enemy Tanks Over Past Day. Fresh Data From General Staff. 29 July 2022. Ukranews.
- Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 28 . 2022-07-29 . . Karolina. Hird. Grace. Mappes. Layne. Phillippson. Katherine. Lawlor. George. Barros. Frederick W.. Kagan. 2022-10-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221022115508/https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-28 . live .
- News: Britain says Russia has continued to attempt tactical assaults on Bakhmut axis. Reuters. 1 August 2022.
- News: Yahoo News. Shoigu says occupation of the Donetsk Oblast continues "according to plan". 2 August 2022. 3 August 2022.
- Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 2. The Institute for the Study of War. 2 August 2022. 3 August 2022.
- News: Russia Pummels Donetsk as New Offensive Intensifies. The National Interest. 9 August 2022. 13 August 2022.
- News: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 10. 10 August 2022. 13 August 2022.
- News: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 6. The Institute for the Study of War. 6 September 2022. 7 September 2022.
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 29. 29 July 2022. 2022-07-30. Institute for the Study of War.
- News: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 5. The Institute for the Study of War. 5 August 2022. 6 August 2022.
- News: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 6. 6 August 2022. 13 August 2022. Institute for the Study of War.
- Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 7. The Institute for the Study of War. 7 August 2022. 8 August 2022.
- News: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 11. The Institute for the Study of War. 11 August 2022. 13 August 2022.
- Web site: RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, AUGUST 25 . Karolina . Hird . Layne . Philipson . George . Barros . Frederick W. . Kagan . Frederick Kagan . 25 August 2022 . . 2022-08-26.
- Web site: Russia may be preparing attack on Ukraine's Slovyansk, Kramatorsk: report. Polskie Radio. 2022-07-08. 2022-05-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20220516042101/https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-1. live.
- Web site: Institute for the Study of War . 2022-07-23 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
- Web site: Ukrainian Armed Forces repel Russian assault on Krasnopillia and Mariinka General Staff report . 2022-07-11 . yahoo.com. 11 July 2022 .
- Web site: Ukraine Army repels enemy assault in Sloviansk direction . 2022-07-13 . Ukrinform. 13 July 2022 .
- Web site: Ukraine Army Repulses Assaults and Russia's Attempt to Conduct Reconnaissance . 2022-07-17 . Kyiv Post. 17 July 2022 .
- Web site: Russian army suffers losses on Sloviansk and Avdiivka fronts – General Staff report . 2022-07-18 . Kyiv Post.
- Web site: 2022-07-21 . Russians trying to improve tactical position in Bakhmut direction . Yahoo.
- Web site: 2022-07-26 . Russian forces fail to advance on the Sloviansk front, fighting continues on the Bakhmut front – General Staff report . Ukrainska Pravda.
- Web site: Invaders Suffer Losses And Retreat Near Sloviansk And Bakhmut - General Staff . 2022-07-19 . Ukrainian News.
- https://kharkov.comments.ua/ua/news/war/2022/12379-mi-vzhe-nastupaemo---arestovich-prokomentuvav-viyskovu-situaciyu-u-harkivskiy-oblasti.html "Ми вже наступаємо", - Арестович прокоментував військову ситуацію у Харківській області
- https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/08/6/7362170/ Окупанти наступали на трьох напрямках, але отримали відсіч – зведення Генштабу
- https://2day.kh.ua/ua/kharkow/rosiyski-viyskovi-namahalysya-vesty-shturm-u-kharkivskiy-oblasti Російські військові намагалися вести штурм у Харківській області
- https://apostrophe.ua/ua/news/politics/2022-08-08/myasorubka-pod-bahmutom-i-jara-pod-hersonom-onlayn-voynyi-8-avgusta/276229 "М'ясорубка" під Бахмутом та "спека" під Херсоном: хроніка війни 8 серпня
- https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2022/08/08/sbity-sem-ukrainskih-bespilotnikov-i-tri-rakety-tochka-u-minoborony Сбиты семь украинских беспилотников и три ракеты «Точка-У» — Минобороны
- https://kharkov.comments.ua/ua/news/war/2022/12408-areshtovich-prokomentuvav-viyskovu-situaciyu-u-harkivskiy-oblasti.html Арестович прокоментував військову ситуацію у Харківській області
- https://24tv.ua/situatsiya-fronti-10-serpnya-2022-shho-vidbuvayetsya-shodi-pivdni_n2121157 Постійні обстріли, нові навчання білорусі та невдалі штурми ворога: що відбувається на фронті
- Web site: Axe . David . Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade Just Liberated A Village From The Russians . 2022-09-04 . Forbes . en.
- https://suspilne.media/269866-na-harkivskomu-napramku-zsu-zmusili-okupantiv-tikati-pisla-nevdalogo-sturmu-genstab/ На Харківському напрямку ЗСУ змусили окупантів тікати після невдалого штурму — Генштаб
- https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-23 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, 23 August
- https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-22 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, 22 August
- Web site: Russia no longer has full control of Luhansk region after Ukraine captures village . . 19 September 2022 .
- News: Sauer . Pjotr . 2022-12-27 . Ukraine says forces closer to recapturing key eastern city of Kreminna . en-GB . The Guardian. 2023-07-30 . 0261-3077.
- Web site: Russians going on offensive in three directions of Donetsk region . 2022-11-14 . www.ukrinform.net . 13 November 2022 . en.
- Web site: Zelenskyy: up to Ukrainian 100 soldiers killed each day in eastern Ukraine. news.yahoo.com. 22 May 2022 . 1 June 2022. 27 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527214826/https://news.yahoo.com/zelenskyy-ukrainian-100-soldiers-killed-150226874.html. live.
- Web site: Ukraine and Russia 'compete to be last army standing' as Donbas deaths mount . . 8 June 2022 .
- News: 2022-06-10 . Russia-Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine losing up to 200 fighters daily; Putin links war to Russia's imperial past . en . Washington Post . 2022-06-10.
- Web site: Lawler . Dave . 2022-06-15 . Ukraine suffering up to 1,000 casualties per day in Donbas, official says . 2022-06-16 . Axios . en.
- Web site: Pro-Russian separatist army commander killed in east of Ukraine. BBC News. 16 April 2022 . 24 April 2022. 30 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430190059/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61136997?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=625ecbb8b1e16c43aefe6ad5%26Pro-Russian%20separatist%20army%20commander%20killed%20in%20east%20of%20Ukraine%262022-04-19T15%3A27%3A08.589Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:71488240-ec60-4396-b95f-0463cd9852b2&pinned_post_asset_id=625ecbb8b1e16c43aefe6ad5&pinned_post_type=share. live.
- Web site: Miller . Christopher . Russian tank attack in eastern Ukraine kills 2 Americans, Canadian and Swede . 2022-07-24 . Politico . en . 2023-07-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230713215542/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/23/americans-killed-russian-tank-attack-00047567 . live .
- Web site: 2022-07-23 . Two Americans Killed in the Donbass . 2022-07-24 . Atlas News . en-US . 2022-07-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220724204607/https://theatlasnews.co/uncategorized/2022/07/22/two-americans-killed-in-the-donbass/ . live .
- 120 killed (21 April) https://tass.com/politics/1441285 80 killed (22 April) https://politikus.info/events/143129-brifing-minoborony-rossii-220422.html 200 killed (23 April),https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=270137 160 killed (25 April) https://tvzvezda.ru/news/20224251031-Wwk6o.html 560 killed (26 April),https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-russia-strikes-idUKL5N2WO2I7 120 killed (27 April),https://tass.com/defense/1443875 320 killed (28 April),https://oopstop.com/russian-aerospace-forces-hit-114-ukrainian-military-facilities-ministry-of-defense/ 280 killed (29 April), 320 killed (30 April),https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-04-30-22/h_2fa0c530c8ea0f9f9ae0392cd040967c https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-it-hit-17-ukrainian-facilities-killed-more-than-200-troops-2022-04-30/#:~:text=Russia%20says%20it%20hit%2017%20Ukrainian%20facilities%2C%20killed%20more%20than%20200%20troops,-By%20Reuters%20Staff&text=(Reuters)%20-%20Russia%27s%20armed%20forces,to%20store%20rockets%20and%20artillery. 440 killed (1 May) https://t.me/ZradaXXII/2218 160 killed (2 May) https://pandoraopen.ru/2022-05-02/brifing-minoborony-rossii-02-05-2022-g/ 230 killed (3 May)https://tass.com/defense/1446411 310 killed (4 May) https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2022/05/04/Russia-says-killed-310-Ukraine-fighters-destroyed-36-military-equipment-in-24-hours 600 killed (5 May) https://t.me/ZradaXXII/2420 280 killed (6 May) https://podolyaka-yurij.ru/utrennij-brifing-minoborony-rf-ot-06-05-2022/ 210 killed (7 May) https://politikus.info/events/143650-brifing-minoborony-rossii-070522.html 420 killed (8 May) https://tass.com/defense/1448381 350 killed (9 May) https://svpressa.ru/war21/news/333641/ 280 killed (11 May) https://pandoraopen.ru/2022-05-11/brifing-minoborony-rossii-11-05-2022-g/ 320 killed (12 May) https://rusdozor.ru/2022/05/12/12-05-2022-1100-brifing-minoborony-rossii_1169063/ 620 killed (13 May) http://worldnews24.over-blog.com/2022/05/russian-federation-continue-a-special-military-operation-in-ukraine-in-total-destroyed-165-aircraft-125-helicopters-845-unmanned-aerial-vehicles-304-anti-aircraft-missile-systems-3039-tanks.html https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/world/---russian-aerospace-forces-strike-ukrainian-military-targets-.html 100 killed (14 May) https://tass.com/defense/1450883 360 killed (16 May) https://www.zenger.news/2022/05/18/video-war-in-ukraine-russian-forces-wipe-out-ukrainian-stronghold-in-series-of-rapid-blasts/ 470 killed (17 May) https://www.newsweek.com/russia-says-265-azov-fighters-surrender-azovstal-plant-1707499 270 killed (18 May) https://www.newsweek.com/russians-reportedly-wipe-out-howitzers-sent-us-ukraine-latest-strikes-1707812 210 killed (22 May) https://tass.com/russia/1454305 230 killed (23 May) https://www.gazeta.ru/army/news/2022/05/23/17789306.shtml 350 killed (26 May) https://www.newsweek.com/russia-launches-ballistic-missile-high-sky-over-ukraine-1710571 140 killed (1 June) https://www.9111.ru/questions/7777777771918563/ 240 killed (2 June) https://www.newsweek.com/russian-forces-hit-ukrainian-positions-hard-missiles-artillery-1712497 360 killed (3 June) https://cnnn.ru/03/06/2022/62394/brifing-minoborony-rf-3-iyunya-2022-dannye-ob-ukraine-ot-igorya-konashenkova-karta-boevyx-dejstvij-itogi-voennyx-dejstvij-segodnya-poslednij-vypusk-mixaila-onufrienko-yuriya-podolyaka.html 400 killed (4 June) https://www.turkeynewsen.com/russia-military-cargo-plane-carrying-ukrainian-weapons-and-ammunition-shot-down/ 400 killed (7 June) https://vpk.name/en/608013_about-the-movement-allied-forces-are-preparing-to-push-the-afu-away-from-donetsk.html 780 killed (8 June) https://eprimefeed.com/latest-news/the-russian-defense-ministry-reported-that-the-grouping-of-the-ukrainian-armed-forces-in-donbass-suffers-significant-losses/107620/ 300 killed (11 June) https://en.mehrnews.com/news/187869/Russia-destroys-largest-depot-of-West-weapons-in-Ukraine 350 killed (14 June) http://worldnews24.over-blog.com/2022/06/briefing-of-the-russian-ministry-of-defense-russian-continue-a-special-military-operation-in-ukraine.html 280 killed (16 June) https://www.newsweek.com/russian-forces-strike-ukrainian-army-positions-missiles-shells-1717042 200 killed (17 June) https://www.zenger.news/2022/06/20/russian-missiles-take-out-buildings-and-military-vehicles/ 160 killed (18 June) https://augengeradeaus.net/2022/06/ukraine-russland-nato-der-sammler-am-18-juni-2022/ 400 killed (19 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLiERGgBZuk 450 killed (20 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3bOMhnsSoY 120 (22 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL6bYfdmUEY 150 killed (23 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ4bI8q-l6c 420 killed (24 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqQK8zRQV84 780 killed (25 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QxvzHX6Nvg 720 killed (26 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqjs_AnhLv0 100 killed (28 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZWKF6qZmVA 420 killed (29 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnJ_xuYCqlg 140 killed (30 June) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU0QK_Hmodc 190 killed (1 July) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt3U0cFaa8E 150 killed (2 July) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxDuEGwkarw total of 15,680+ killed claimed by Russia
- 1,500+ killed in Second Battle of Lyman https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/10/06/russian-soldiers-left-dead-heavy-defeat-lyman-cauldron/ 200 killed in artillery strike on Russian command post https://theweek.com/russo-ukrainian-war/1013143/ukraine-says-it-destroyed-russias-izyum-command-center-killing-200-but10,000-11,000 killed during the Battle of Sievierodonetsk https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/a-conversation-with-oleksii-reznikov/20–25 killed during battle of Popasna https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/ukrainian-officials-dozens-of-rf-mercenaries-from-libya-syria-russia-killed-in-popasna-attacks.html 1,000–1,500+ killed during battle of Siverskyi Donets https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russian-battalion-devastated-as-it-crosses-river-989vvnj9v https://web.archive.org/web/20220516030015/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/15/world/europe/pro-russian-war-bloggers-kremlin.html 20 killed (18 April),https://www.unn.com.ua/uk/news/1973038-ukrayinski-viyskovi-na-skhodi-krayini-zneshkodili-20-okupantiv-ta-odin-tank 30 killed (19 April),https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/04/19/7340766/ 36 killed (20 April),https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/04/20/v-otu-shid-ukrayinski-voyiny-znyshhyly-blyzko-40-okupantiv-5-bmp-4-btr-1-zrk-ta-1-minometnyj-rozrahunok/ 200 killed (21 April),https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/826309.html 130 killed (22 April),https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/04/23/7341506/ 150 killed (23 April),https://theworldnews.net/ua-news/viis-ka-znishchili-150-okupantiv-ta-yikhniu-tekhniku-na-skhodi 100 killed (24 April),https://tsn.ua/ato/ukrayinski-biyci-otu-shid-protyagom-dobi-likviduvali-blizko-100-okupantiv-ta-znischili-yihnyu-tehniku-2045392.html 160 killed (25 April),http://bug.org.ua/news/zsu-na-shodi-znyshhyly-try-tanky-i-blyzko-160-zagarbnykiv-657655/ 100 killed (26 April),https://www.footboom.com/ukrainian/news/1650995212-na-skhodi-sylamy-zsu-bulo-znyshcheno-5-tankiv-ta-sotniu-soldativ-rf.html 75 killed (27 April),https://glavcom.ua/country/incidents/doba-na-shodi-zsu-v-boyah-likviduvali-75-okupantiv-841432.html 42 killed (28 April),https://hvylya.net/news/251588-na-donbase-vsu-otrazili-9-atak-rashistov-ozvucheny-poteri 173 killed (29 April), https://censor.net/ua/news/3337813/na_shidnomu_napryamku_29_kvitnya_vidbyto_4_ataky_okupantiv_znyscheno_173_rosiyanyna_4_tanky_5_artsystem 81 killed (30 April), https://pravdatut.ua/news/93708 57 killed (1 May), https://newsua.one/news-military/65457.html 275 killed (2 May), https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/829025.html https://www.timesofisrael.com/russian-general-200-soldiers-said-killed-in-ukrainian-military-strike/ 40 killed (3 May), https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3474221-zsu-na-shodi-znisili-40-zagarbnikiv-ta-pat-tankiv.html 36 killed (4 May), https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/829624.html 32 killed (5 May), https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/05/05/vijskovosluzhbovczi-otu-shid-sogodni-vidbyly-dvi-ataky-rosijskyh-okupantiv-ta-znyshhyly-3-tanky/ 15 killed (6 May), https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/830274.html 107 killed (7 May) https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3477581-zsu-na-shodi-znisili-ponad-100-zagarbnikiv-i-visim-rosijskih-tankiv.html 190 killed (8 May) https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/05/08/ukrayinski-voyiny-v-otu-shid-znyshhyly-do-190-okupantiv-15-tankiv-12-bmp-12-btr-i-2-bpla-voroga/ 250 killed (9 May) https://www.unian.ua/war/viyskovi-z-ugrupovannya-shid-za-dobu-znishchili-do-250-okupantiv-novini-vtorgnennya-rosiji-v-ukrajinu-11819751.html 260 killed (10 May) https://censor.net/ua/news/3340477/za_10_travnya_na_shidnomu_napryamku_vidbyto_4_ataky_znyscheno_260_okupantiv_4_tanky_4_odynytsi_bronetehniky 250 killed (11 May) https://glavcom.ua/country/incidents/zsu-zvituyut-sogodni-na-shodi-bulo-vdale-polyuvannya-844840.html 180 killed (12 May) https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/05/13/za-mynulu-dobu-pidrozdily-otu-shid-znyshhyly-23-odynyczi-bojovoyi-tehniky-voroga/ 130 killed (13 May) https://m.censor.net/ua/news/3341184/na_shidnomu_napryamku_13_travnya_vidbyto_9_atak_rosiyan_znyscheno_do_130_okupantiv_2_tanky_7_odynyts 80 killed (14 May) https://www.5.ua/regiony/u-zoni-oos-viiskovi-vidbily-12-atak-voroha-277167.html 84 killed (15 May) https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/832411.html 178 killed (16 May) https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/05/16/16-travnya-znyshheno-28-odynycz-tehniky-rosiyan-vidbyto-8-atak-otu-shid/ 110 killed (17 May) https://censor.net/ua/news/3341994/protyagom_17_travnya_na_shidnomu_napryamku_vidbyto_2_ataky_rosiyan_znyscheno_do_110_okupantiv_3_artsystemy 220 killed (18 May) https://www.5.ua/suspilstvo/zsu-vidbyly-23-ataky-rashystiv-na-skhodi-na-donbasi-pid-obstrilamy-maizhe-50-naselenykh-punktiv-277550.html 40 killed (19 May) https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/05/20/otu-shid-znyshhylo-desyatky-zagarbnykiv-ta-chotyry-odynyczi-vorozhoyi-tehniky/ 80 killed (20 May) https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3488253-zsu-znisili-na-shodi-sklad-z-boepripasami-ta-blizko-80-zagarbnikiv.html 28 killed (21 May) https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/833920.html 9 killed (22 May) https://www.unian.ua/war/na-shidnomu-napryamku-vorog-zdiysniv-odnu-ataku-znishcheno-dev-yatoh-okupantiv-otu-shid-novini-vtorgnennya-rosiji-v-ukrajinu-11837499.html 30 killed (23 May) https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/05/23/v-otu-shid-ukrayinski-voyiny-znyshhyly-blyzko-30-okupantiv-ta-2-vorozhyh-bpla/ 180 killed (24 May) https://newsua.one/news-military/66638.html 62 killed (25 May) https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/834878.html 87 killed (26 May) https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/835127.html 60 killed (27 May) https://newsua.one/news-military/66798.html 33 killed (28 May) https://uazmi.org/news/post/8843cf22670b959825dfee8cf87ad0cd 39 killed (29 May) https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3495248-zsu-na-shodi-znisili-se-39-rosijskih-vijskovih-ta-sklad-z-boepripasami.html 50 killed (30 May) https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/835902.html 22 killed (31 May) https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/05/31/na-shidnomu-napryamku-znyshheno-22-okupanty-bmp-ta-sklad-boyeprypasiv/ 38 killed (1 June) https://www.unian.ua/war/biyci-ugrupovannya-shid-za-dobu-znishchili-38-okupantiv-novini-vtorgnennya-rosiji-v-ukrajinu-11850669.html 32 killed (2 June) https://espreso.tv/tsiei-dobi-na-skhodi-ukrainski-voyaki-znishchili-komandno-sposterezhniy-punkt-voroga-32-okupantiv-ta-blizko-10-odinits-tekhniki 36 killed (3 June) https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/836957.html 60 killed (4 June) https://espreso.tv/otu-skhid-4-chervnya-znishchili-2-skladi-z-boepripasami-ta-komandno-sposterezhniy-punkt-rf 43 killed (5 June) https://kyiv.ukrainianwall.com/89507-rozklali-na-atomi-zsu-vlashtuvali-peklo-dlya-okupantiv-u-nebi-ta-na-zemli 48 killed (6 June) https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/06/06/vijskovosluzhbovczi-operatyvno-taktychnogo-ugrupovannya-shid-znyshhyly-48-okupantiv-ta-2-minomety/ 56 killed (7 June) https://glavcom.ua/country/incidents/zsu-vidzvituvali-pro-uspihi-na-shidnomu-fronti-851395.html 31 killed (8 June) https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/837922.html 32 killed (9 June) https://newsua.one/news-military/67431.html 30 killed (10 June) https://kyiv.ukrainianwall.com/89672-pidnyati-vsi-sili-aviaciya-artileriya-pihota-zsu-zavdali-potuzhnih-udariv-okupanti-pozbulisya-velicheznoji-kilkosti-sil-i-tehniki 20 killed (11 June) https://suspilne.media/249249-vtorgnenna-rosii-v-ukrainu-den-109-tekstovij-onlajn/ 18 killed (12 June) https://kyiv.ukrainianwall.com/uk/89722-nakrili-gradi-i-skladi-okupantiv-zsu-pokazali-yak-na-triycyu-vidpracyuvali-po-orkah 48 killed (13 June) https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/06/13/ukrayinski-vijskovi-znyshhyly-majzhe-50-okupantiv-na-shodi/ 73 killed (14 June) https://espreso.tv/vprodovzh-14-chervnya-zsu-na-skhodi-znishchili-ponad-70-okupantiv-i-blizko-20-odinits-tekhniki 34 killed (15 June) https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3507789-na-shodi-zsu-znisili-ponad-30-zagarbnikiv-ta-dva-skladi-z-boepripasami.html 26 killed (16 June) https://1bpost.com/2022/06/na-shidnomu-napryamku-znyshheno-26-okupantiv-1-btr-ta-1-bpla/ 15 killed (17 June) https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/839962.html 87 killed (18 June) https://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/840140.html 14 killed (19 June) https://football.ua/countrieselse/480932-vijjna-den-116-general-patrik-sanders-skazav-svojim-vijjskam-shho-voni-povinni-pidgotuvatisja-vojuvati-v-jevropi-shhe-raz.html 106 killed (20 June) https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/06/20/otu-shid-za-dobu-znyshheno-ponad-sotnyu-okupantiv/ total of 19,063-19,563+ killed claimed by Ukraine
- 1,426 killed and 5,766 wounded between 23 February and 22 April https://eng.ombudsman-dnr.ru/the-overview-of-the-current-social-and-humanitarian-situation-in-the-territory-of-the-donetsk-peoples-republic-as-a-result-of-hostilities-in-the-period-from-23-to-29-april-2022/, with 4,001 killed and 16,905 wounded during the period of the entire invasion https://eng.ombudsman-dnr.ru/the-overview-of-the-current-social-and-humanitarian-situation-in-the-territory-of-the-donetsk-peoples-republic-as-a-result-of-hostilities-in-the-period-26-november-and-02-december-2022/, leaving 2,575 killed and 11,139 wounded during the period of the battle.
- Web site: 60 believed killed after school attack by Russia in east Ukraine . 2022-05-08 . www.aljazeera.com . en . 8 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220508224315/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/8/more-than-60-believed-killed-after-school-strike-in-east-ukraine . live .
- Web site: Bodies of 44 civilians found under rubble of five-story house in occupied Izyum, says governor . 2022-05-10 . news.yahoo.com . 10 May 2022 . en-US . 10 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220510145041/https://news.yahoo.com/bodies-44-civilians-found-under-123900694.html . live .
- Web site: Росіяни взяли під контроль Кремінну, йдуть вуличні бої – Гайдай . 2022-04-19 . Українська правда . uk . 19 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419064227/https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/04/18/7340360/ . live .
- Web site: 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 . 21 April 2022 . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421200622/https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-new-04-18-22/h_afd7619788eef9a4a65ba9dbb704efca . live .
- 1516165162935406598. ZarinaZabrisky.
- 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
. Zarina Zabrisky. 18 April 2022. 24 April 2022. en. Zabrisky. Zarina.
- Web site: 27 May 2022 . Ukraine fears repeat of Mariupol horrors as Donbas offensive increases . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220527175818/https://www.euronews.com/2022/05/27/ukraine-live-at-least-1-500-dead-in-city-of-sievierodonetsk-says-mayor . 27 May 2022 . 27 May 2022.
- Web site: Russian missile attack on high-rise building in Donetsk region: death toll rises to 15 . 10 July 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710204158/https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-missile-attack-high-rise-102546031.html . 10 July 2022 . 10 July 2022.
- Web site: 2022-07-12 . Chasiv Yar death toll rises to 34 in one of Russia's deadliest attacks so far . 2022-07-13 . The Guardian . en.
- 3,696 civilians killed and 4,957 wounded from the start of the invasion until 10 October https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2022/10/ukraine-civilian-casualty-update-10-october-2022, with 732 killed and 1,371 wounded up to 24 February https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2022/04/ukraine-civilian-casualty-update-18-april-2022, leaving a total of 3,696 civilians killed and 4,957 wounded counted by the U.N. during the period of the battle
- News: 'The Russians are determined': Ukrainian soldiers defending Donbas city try to keep up morale under fire . 26 May 2022 . 26 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220526183425/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-lysychansk-russia-offensive-1.6455045 . live .
- https://kyivindependent.com/mayor-of-bakhmut-on-civilian-casualties-since-start-of-invasion/ Mayor: 204 Bakhmut residents killed, 505 injured since start of full-scale invasion
- News: Ukraine war: 60 people killed after bomb hits school, Zelensky says. BBC News . 8 May 2022. 23 May 2022. 9 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220509110941/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61369229. live.
- 1204 civilians were killed and 2,588 wounded during the period of the invasion https://t.me/pavlokyrylenko_donoda/5513, of which 245 civilians were killed and 789 were wounded between 24 February – 18 April,https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-war-live-russia-begins-new-offense-donbas-region-1698970 leaving a total of 959 civilians killed and 1,899 wounded between 18 April – 13 November
- Web site: 19 April 2022 . Russia takes Donbas town but Ukrainian frontline 'still holding' . 2022-04-19 . The Guardian . en . 22 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422004820/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/19/ukraine-war-battle-for-donbas-has-begun-russia-launches-offensive . live .
- Up to 26 May 2022, at least 1,500 people had been killed since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022,https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-morning-briefing-russian-soldiers-203749441.html including around 400 who died by 12 April 2022.https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-04-12-22/h_9ddccd751c45572412e69f64eb9bc320
- Web site: Russian forces have 'upper hand' in Donbas fighting, Ukrainian officials say . . 26 May 2022 . 26 May 2022 . 28 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220528225247/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/26/ukraine-burying-civilians-mass-graves-russia-advances . live .
- Web site: 8 killed in Lysychansk as Russian forces try to storm the city, Ukrainian military official says . 27 June 2022 .
- 723 civilians killed in the period 18 April – 27 June (554 civilians killed up until 18 April https://gx.net.ua/obshhestvo/region/54-j-den-vojny-skolko-pogibshih-sredi-mirnogo-naseleniya-harkovshhiny.html, 1277 civilians killed up until 30 September https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid03R6TdRaVQZPC1rhFY5Qx612JaKcYaWswHjJGnXRkQzDaGx8FwS2mQwTWNtjqdiDNl&id=100002276907245 leaving a total of 306 civilians dead during the period of the battle
- 328+ wounded between 18 April and 27 June) 15 wounded (18 April) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/04/18/7340527/ 14 wounded (19 April) https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/least-three-dead-16-wounded-shelling-ukraines-kharkiv-governor-2022-04-19/ 7 wounded (21 April) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/04/23/7341589/ 19 wounded (22 April) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/04/22/7341497/ 6 wounded (23 April) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/04/23/7341589/ 9 wounded (25 April) https://www.reuters.com/world/four-die-nine-wounded-russias-shelling-kharkiv-governor-2022-04-25/ 12 wounded (26 April) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/04/26/7342288/ 3 wounded (27 April) https://www.yahoo.com/video/kharkiv-region-1-dead-several-192031668.html 2 wounded (28 April) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/russian-army-fires-kharkiv-again-101347301.html 5 wounded (29 April) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/04/23/7341589/ 8 wounded (1 May) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kharkiv-region-3-dead-8-185056466.html 8 wounded (2 May) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/05/2/7343567/ 1 wounded (3 May) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/05/3/7343650/ 5 wounded (6 May) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/05/6/7344370/ 5 wounded (8 May) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/05/8/7344917/ 10 wounded (10 May) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/05/10/7345393/ 4 wounded (13 May) https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3482241-two-civilians-killed-four-injured-in-russias-shelling-of-derhachi.html 5+ wounded (19 May) https://www.yahoo.com/video/russians-firing-artillery-kharkiv-city-193824279.html 3 wounded (20 May) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/05/20/7347355/ 3 wounded (24 May) https://www.nurnberg2022.org/en/post/on-may-24-a-woman-died-from-russian-shelling-in-the-kharkiv-region-three-were-injured 19 wounded (26 May) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/05/26/7348680/ 4 wounded (30 May) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/05/30/7349533/ 14 wounded (31 May) https://finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/three-civilians-killed-kharkiv-region-083539087.html 1 wounded (2 June) https://sports.yahoo.com/casualties-kharkiv-night-shelling-073135329.html 1 wounded (5 June) https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-06-05-22/h_14f0cfdc7750de0afe1fff902d22105b 3 wounded (7 June) https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/fresh-shelling-ukraines-kharkiv-kills-one-mayor-2022-06-07/ 6 wounded (8 June) https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/06/9/7351401/ 28 wounded (9 June) https://www.yahoo.com/now/two-people-dead-result-shelling-101611830.html 2 wounded (13 June) https://www.yahoo.com/video/russians-shelled-kharkiv-oblast-starting-052922387.html 3 wounded (14 June) https://www.yahoo.com/video/one-person-killed-five-wounded-114000847.html 10 wounded (20 June) https://kyivindependent.com/uncategorized/governor-9-civilians-injured-in-kharkiv-oblast-after-russian-shelling/ 16 wounded (21 June) https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-06-21-22/h_01708811eadbd5c69de5dfc23d08a4aa 9 wounded (22 June) https://sports.yahoo.com/kharkiv-oblast-two-civilians-killed-201023474.html 22 wounded (27 June) https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-shelling-kills-five-civilians-ukraines-kharkiv-regional-governor-2022-06-27/ 6 wounded (28 June) https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/06/28/7355254/ 9 wounded (29 June) https://english.nv.ua/nation/russian-attacks-on-kharkiv-oblast-kill-two-injure-nine-civilians-50253089.html 5 wounded (30 June) https://www.forbes.com/sites/katyasoldak/2022/06/30/thursday-june-30-russias-war-on-ukraine-news-and-information-from-ukraine/?sh=7b31787237da 5 wounded (7 July) https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-shelling-kills-three-wounds-five-ukraines-kharkiv-official-2022-07-07/ 31 wounded (11 July)https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-shelling-kills-three-wounds-28-kharkiv-ukraine-2022-07-11/
- Web site: Over 1,000 Civilians Killed During Russian Occupation of Izyum . 13 September 2022 .
- https://english.nv.ua/nation/fierce-fighting-around-luhansk-region-leaves-six-civilians-dead-russia-invasion-of-ukraine-50244033.html https://twitter.com/now_in_ukraine/status/1523391235188469760 https://kyivindependent.com/uncategorized/russian-military-killed-15-civilians-in-luhansk-donetsk-oblasts-on-may-18/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2022/04/17/7340254/ https://web.archive.org/web/20220422021653/https://twitter.com/trtworldnow/status/1516142373662830596 https://suspilne.media/229818-aka-situacia-na-lugansini-stanom-na-18-kvitna/ https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/04/22/7341292/ https://suspilne.media/231985-u-zolotomu-na-lugansini-za-den-vid-obstriliv-rosijskih-vijsk-zaginulo-6-ludej-gajdaj/ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eight-people-die-russian-attacks-ukraines-luhansk-region-governor-2022-04-24/ https://twitter.com/kyivindependent/status/1525603300510400514 https://t.me/mvs_ukraine/12695 https://www.orbitalaffairs.com/russia-ukraine-reside-information-kyiv-says-20-civilians-killed-in-east/ https://t.me/chanel24/40283 https://twitter.com/olehbatkovych/status/1526488017535483905 https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-04-26-22/h_9deabb9855ed0cc94a297cbb945c67ce https://twitter.com/now_in_ukraine/status/1520111992714895360 https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3493485-russians-kill-13-people-in-donetsk-luhansk-regions-on-may-26.html https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3508744-enemy-intensifies-shelling-in-luhansk-region-six-killed-in-lysychansk-siverodonetsk.html https://www.yahoo.com/video/least-two-civilians-killed-russia-093400838.html https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3493363-five-people-killed-in-enemy-shelling-of-luhansk-region-over-past-24-hours.html
- Web site: 600 injured in recent bombing of Azovstal steel plant, Mariupol mayor says . 29 April 2022 . 23 May 2022 . 3 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220503200503/https://www.egyptindependent.com/600-injured-in-recent-bombing-of-azovstal-steel-plant-mariupol-mayor-says/ . live .
- Web site: 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 .
- Web site: LPR mission reveals total number of casualties due to Ukrainian shelling since escalation . 2022-10-13 . TASS.