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Mykolaiv offensive (August-September 2022)

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Mykolaiv offensive (August 2022)
Part of the southern Ukraine offensive of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Petro Mohyla Black Sea State University shelled in August
Date20 August – 29 August 2022
(1 week and 2 days)[citation needed]
Location
Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine
Result Russian offensive halted as a result of the Ukrainian counteroffensive[citation needed]
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Units involved

 Russian Armed Forces

 Ukrainian Armed Forces

 Ukrainian Navy

Irregular civilian volunteers (militia)[1]
Casualties and losses
Per Ukraine:
Unknown		 Per Ukraine:
Unknown
Unknown

The Mykolaiv offensive (August 2022) is a military offensive that started on the night of 20 August 2022 as part of the southern Ukraine offensive during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It began about five months after Russian forces had been pushed out of the towns of Mykolaiv and Voznesensk in mid-March. By April 2022, almost all villages surrounding Mykolaiv were under Ukrainian control. In July, Ukrainian forces attempted to start a counteroffensive in the south with a heavy bombardment campaign. The attacks severely damaged the Antonivskyi Bridge and reached as far south as Crimea, but by mid August, they had failed to kickstart a major counteroffensive. After both sides claimed their opponent had been shelling the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Enerhodar, Russian troops launched their own offensive in Mykolaiv Oblast. As of 24 August, the Russians had only captured the village of Blahodatne.[3] On 29 August, Ukrainian officials announced that they had begun their counteroffensive, though Russian forces denied they had made any gains.[4][5]

Prelude

Main articles: Southern Ukraine campaign, Battle of Kherson, and Battle of Mykolaiv
Further information: Battle of Voznesensk, Battle of Davydiv Brid, Attack on Nova Kakhovka, and 2022 Novofedorivka explosions
The house shelled on 29 June

On 24 February, Russian forces took control of the North Crimean Canal, allowing Crimea to obtain water from the Dnieper, previously cut off since 2014.[6] Another Russian force advanced north from Crimea, with the Russian 22nd Army Corps approaching the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on 26 February.[7][8] On 28 February, they began a siege at Enerhodar in an attempt to take control of the nuclear power plant.[9] A fire began at the plant during the battle.[10] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) subsequently said that essential equipment was undamaged.[11] By 4 March, the nuclear power plant fell under Russian control. Despite the fires, the power plant recorded no radiation leaks.[12] A third Russian attack group from Crimea moved northwest, where they captured bridges over the Dnieper.[13]

Battle of Kherson

On 2 March, Russian troops won the battle of Kherson and captured Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city to fall to Russian forces in the invasion.[14]

Battle of Mykolaiv

After capturing Kherson, Russian forces advanced west towards the city of Mykolaiv. While Russian forces attacked Mykolaiv, a Russian column detached and pushed north, engaging Ukrainian forces twice at the small city of Voznesensk. The majority Russian-speaking city was considered strategically significant to Russian forces due to having a bridge across the Southern Bug river and its proximity to the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant. Russian troops moved on Mykolaiv and attacked the city two days later, but were repulsed by Ukrainian forces by April.[15] The following day, Russian forces captured Voznesnesk; Ukrainian forces recaptured the city three days later on 13 March.[16][17] On 15 March, head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Vitaly Kim claimed that Ukrainian forces had pushed back Russian forces from the city center and restored the security situation.[18]

On 18 March, Ukrainian forces reportedly broke through Russian lines around Mykolaiv, pushing them back into Kherson raion.[19]

On 18 March, two Russian Kalibr missiles, fired from either nearby Kherson or Crimea, struck a Ukrainian army barracks of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade (headquartered in Mykolaiv), used to train local soldiers, located in the northern suburbs of Mykolaiv.[20] The attack occurred during the night, while the soldiers were asleep in their bunks. Not enough time was available to sound the alarm, as the missiles were fired from too close, from the vicinity of Kherson.[21] Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported that the city morgue and the Ukrainian army stated that at least 80 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and their bodies were recovered.[22]

On 8 April, Ukraine claimed that "virtually no" Russian forces remained in the Mykolaiv region.[23]

Bombing of Mykolaiv (April — July)

From 16 April, Russian forces continued shelling the city.[24] In mid April, the city lost its main water supply as a result of damage to the pipeline bringing fresh water from the Dnipro. Subsequently the people in Mykolaiv were forced to rely on water from rivers and streams as well as donations from neighbouring towns and cities. Kim promised to get the water supply back to half capacity in the following days using wells, water purification equipment, and desalination plants. Shelling and cruise missile attacks continued, although the city remained in Ukrainian control.[25]

On 5 May, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed that its missiles destroyed a large ammunition depot in Mykolaiv.[26]

On 22 June, Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian forces launched seven missiles at Mykolaiv.[27][28] According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the strike, conducted by the Russian Aerospace Forces, killed up to 500 servicemen of the 59th Motorized Brigade located in the Okean shipbuilding plant and destroyed a fuel terminal in the city.[29]

On 28 June, shelling damaged Central City Stadium and an abandoned military base.[30] On 29 June, Russian rocket strike hit a 5-story residential building,[31] killing at least 8 people and injuring 6.[32]

On 15 July, two largest universities of the city were struck by missiles: Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding and Mykolaiv National University.[33][34][35]

On 29 July, five people were killed and seven were injured at a bus stop in Mykolaiv after Russians shelled the city.[36] Another strike on July 30 killed Oleksiy Vadaturskyi, the owner of Ukrainian agricultural company Nibulon, along with his wife.[37]

On 17 August, two missiles hit Petro Mohyla Black Sea State University.[38] Two days later, it was shelled with two more S-300 missiles.[39]

Ukrainian counteroffensive and Attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

The Institute for the Study of War stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were likely to be either preparing to launch or to have already launched the counteroffensive in Kherson Oblast as of 23 July 2022,[40] with presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych officially confirming the start of the operation on 27 July.[41] A different (unnamed) Ukrainian official claimed that the counteroffensive only began on 10 August after explosions at a Russian airbase in Crimea.[42] Experts later claimed that an offensive to recapture Russian-occupied territories in the south was "increasingly unlikely" and questioned whether Ukraine was actually preparing for its counteroffensive; some observers opined that Kyiv may never have intended to launch a major counteroffensive.[43]

On 12 July, Serhiy Bratchuk, the Ukrainian spokesman for the Odessa region, claims that Ukrainian forces have killed the chief of staff for the 22nd Army Corps, Major General Artyom Nasbulin, during a strike near Kherson by a HIMARS rocket. Ukraine also claims the death of some five Colonels in the same strike. Russian forces confirmed the strike but did not confirm the death of the officers claimed by Ukraine. They claimed that the Ukrainian rocket hit a warehouse that contained chemicals which then exploded. Serhiy Bratchuk wrote on Telegram: "After a strike by HIMARS on the headquarters in the Kherson region, Major General [Artyom] Nasbulin, the head of the 22nd Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces (military unit 73954, Simferopol), was killed. Colonel Kens, whose death we announced yesterday, died there as well. And apart from him, the commander of the 20th motorized rifle division (military unit 22220, Volgograd) Colonel Andrei Gorobyets, the head of the operational department of the headquarters of the 20th MRD, Colonel Koval, the head of artillery of the 20th MRD, Colonel Gordeev. In total more than 150 died, including 5 officers".[44][45]

Ukrainian presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych claimed on 1 August that Russia had gathered "30 battalion tactical groups" on the southern front for an 6 August offensive towards Kryvyi Rih and Mykolaiv; this claim was not independently verified at the time.[46] Russian equipment was seen reinforcing the Zaporizhzhia front.[47]

Battle

On 20 August, Ukrainian sources admitted that Russian forces had advanced and made gains in the towns of Blahodatne and Vasylky in Mykolaiv Oblast.[48][49] On August 22, Russian forces achieved some success east of the city of Mykolaiv and in northwestern Kherson Oblast, driving Ukrainian forces 36 km from the front line to the north and 28 km deep into the territory of Mykolaiv Oblast with two objectives, to force a westward direction towards the city Mykolaiv or in a northerly direction towards the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with the intention of capturing the city of Kryvyi Rih, which hosts a strong Ukrainian troop concentration, and from where a counter-offensive on Kherson, Melitopol, Enerhodar, Berdyansk and Crimea is planned. On the same day, Russian forces took control of Blahodatne (referred to by the Russian Ministry of Defense as Komsomolsky) about 45 km east of the town of Mykolaiv and a 12 square kilometer zone of control.[50]

On August 23, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian forces had advanced northwest of Aleksandrovka, approximately 38 km west of the city of Kherson, and had reached the administrative border of Kherson-Mykolaiv Oblast. Ukrainian troops retaliated with artillery strikes on the site of the Russian 247th Airborne Regiment of the 7th Guards Air Assault Division and the ammunition depot in Chornobaivka. The same day, Russian forces continued air and artillery strikes on Dnipropetrovsk, Kryvyi Rih, and Mykolaiv with Uragan rockets.[51]

From 24 to 25 August, the Russian forces continued their attacks but made no further progress.[52][53] On 27 August, Russian and Ukrainian forces clashed at Potomkyne in northwestern Kherson Oblast; both sides claimed that they had repelled an attack. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine continued to conduct air strikes in the area, with Ukraine's Southern Operational Command claiming successful hits on two bridges and two Russian battalion tactical groups.[54]

Ukrainian counteroffensive

Further information: 2022 Ukrainian southern counteroffensive

On 29 August, Ukrainian forces declared that they had launched a new offensive and claimed to have captured territory in Kherson Oblast,[55][56] while Russian representatives denounced these claims as false.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Schwirtz, Michael (6 March 2022). "Proud Band of Ukrainian Troops Holds Russian Assault at Bay – for Now". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "As result of morning shelling of Mykolaiv, eight servicemen killed, eight missing – local authorities". interfax-Ukraine. 7 March 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  3. ^ [criticalthreats.org/analysis/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-20 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 20]
  4. ^ Reuters (29 August 2022). "Ukraine says long-anticipated southern offensive has begun". Reuters. Retrieved 29 August 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ a b "Во временной администрации опровергли данные о наступлении ВСУ на Херсон". РБК (in Russian). Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  6. ^ Marrow, Alexander; Ostroukh, Andrey (24 February 2022). "Russian forces unblock water flow for canal to annexed Crimea, Moscow says". Reuters. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Ukraine official says Russian troops approaching Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant". National Post. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  8. ^ "The Russians paused the invasion, but aren't losing". Australian Financial Review. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Ukraine nuclear plant on fire after Russia shelling". News.com.au. 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Russian forces attacking Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, per multiple reports". Business Insider Australia. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Russian forces strike Ukraine from multiple fronts, including at power plant". ABC News. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Russian troops take Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant". ABC News. 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Ukraine loses control over crossing to Kherson". Ukrinform. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  14. ^ Schwirtz, Michael; Pérez-Peña, Richard (2 March 2022). "First Ukraine City Falls as Russia Strikes More Civilian Targets". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Ukrainian defenders repelled attack on Mykolaiv city, fighting continues on outskirts". Ukrinform. 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  16. ^ Voznesensk resists Russian takeover: City occupied 3 days, now freed & preparing to defend, France 24.
  17. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 10". Institute for the Study of War. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  18. ^ Reuters (15 March 2022). "Russian forces have been pushed back slightly from Ukraine's Mykolayiv city, says governor". Reuters. Retrieved 8 April 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ Journal, Yaroslav Trofimov | Photographs by Manu Brabo for The Wall Street (18 March 2022). "Ukrainian Counteroffensive Near Mykolaiv Relieves Strategic Port City". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Russian Rocket Attack Turns Ukrainian Marine Base to Rubble, Killing Dozens". MSN. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Ukraine conflict: Scores feared dead after Russia attack on Mykolaiv barracks". BBC News. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Onze oorlogsjournalist Robin Ramaekers na bombardement in Mykolaiv: "Een van de zwaarste klappen voor het Oekraïense leger tot nu toe"". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Flemish). 18 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Practically no invaders left in Mykolayiv region – head of administration". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  24. ^ "Ukraine says five killed in shelling in city of Mykolaiv". reuters.com. 16 April 2022.
  25. ^ "People in Mykolaiv forced to use water from the river because of damaged pipeline". CNN. 17 April 2022.
  26. ^ Reuters (5 May 2022). "Russia killed over 600 Ukrainian fighters in artillery strikes - defence ministry". Reuters. Retrieved 10 June 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  27. ^ "Russian missiles hit Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, one killed". reuters.com. 22 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Massive Russian strike on Mykolaiv - seven missiles launched". ukrinform.net. 22 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Минобороны сообщило об ударе по заводу "Океан" в Николаеве". vedomosti.ru. 22 June 2022.
  30. ^ "8 Russian missiles strike Mykolaiv, hitting stadium and military base". Ukrainska Pravda. 28 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Mykolaiv: Russia hits apartment building, killing civilians". Ukrainska Pravda. 29 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Mykolaiv missile strike: death toll rises to 8". Ukrainska Pravda. 1 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Two universities in Mykolaiv hit by missiles; Russian forces advance on Siversk". The Washington Post. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Russia hammers Mykolaiv again, hitting two universities in the southern city". The New York Times. 15 July 2022.
  35. ^ Завгородня І. (15 July 2022). "Удар по Миколаєву: значні руйнування двох університетів, четверо постраждалих" (in Ukrainian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022.
  36. ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Russian Strikes Kill 5 At Bus Stop In South Ukraine: Governor". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  37. ^ "Oleksiy Vadatursky: Ukraine grain tycoon killed in Russian shelling of Mykolaiv". BBC News. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  38. ^ "Mykolaiv shelling: two rockets hit university". Ukrainska Pravda. 17 August 2022.
  39. ^ "Росіяни повторно вдарили по миколаївській Могилянці" (in Ukrainian). НикВести. 19 August 2022.
  40. ^ Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 23
  41. ^ Otte, Jedidajah; Belam, Martin; Lock, Samantha (28 July 2022). "Russia-Ukraine war: 75,000 Russians killed or injured so far, says US – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  42. ^ "Ukraine's long-awaited southern counteroffensive begins with a bang in Crimea". POLITICO. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  43. ^ Beardsworth, James (18 August 2022). "Ukrainian Southern Counteroffensive 'Unlikely' as Russia Bolsters Forces". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  44. ^ Roland Oliphant, James Kilner (13 July 2022). "Himars rocket strike kills Russian major general and up to a dozen officers". msn.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  45. ^ Allison Quinn (12 July 2022). "Another General Killed as Russian Leak Admits 'Big Shot Fucking Command' Was Obliterated". thedailybeast.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  46. ^ "Arestovich: The invaders gathered about 30 BTGs in the south for an attack on Kryvyi Rih and Mykolaiv". Odessa Journal. 2 August 2022. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  47. ^ "Movement of Russian equipment towards Zaporizhzhia recorded in Mariupol". Yahoo News. 1 August 2022. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  48. ^ "General Staff: Russia continues to advance in several directions". Kyiv Independent. 20 August 2022.
  49. ^ "Russia makes gains near Blahodatne – General Staff report". Pravda UA. 21 August 2022.
  50. ^ [criticalthreats.org/analysis/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-22 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 22]
  51. ^ [criticalthreats.org/analysis/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-23 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 23]
  52. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 24". Institute for the Study of War. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  53. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 25". Institute for the Study of War. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  54. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 27". Institute for the Study of War. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  55. ^ "Ukraine says long-anticipated southern offensive has begun". Reuters. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  56. ^ "Ukrainian Counteroffensive Underway in Kherson Region". Kyiv Post. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
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