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Battle of the Siverskyi Donets

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For other uses, see Battle of the Donets (disambiguation).
This article is about the May 2022 battle along the Donets. For engagements along the river in April 2022, see Battle of Izium (2022). For engagements in July 2022, see Battle of Lysychansk.

Battle of the Siverskyi Donets
Part of the battle of Donbas (2022) and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

The front line on May 13, with the Donets outlined in purple.
Date5–13 May 2022 (8 days)
Location
Along the Donets river, in Dronivka, Serebrianka and Bilohorivka
Result Ukrainian victory
Belligerents
 Ukraine  Russia
Units involved
  • 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade
    • Strength
    Unknown Per NYT: 550 soldiers[2]
    Per Ukraine: Two Battalion tactical groups (1,200-1,600 men)[3][4]
    Casualties and losses
    Unknown Per NYT & ISW:[2][5]
    485 casualties
    80 vehicles destroyed
    Ukrainian claim:
    1,000–1,500 killed[1][6]
    100 vehicles destroyed

    The battle of the Siverskyi Donets was a series of military engagements which took place in May 2022, most notably from 5 to 13 May, on the Lyman–Sievierodonetsk front of the battle of Donbas. It was part of the wider eastern Ukraine offensive during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

    Russian forces from the 74th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army[2] were defeated by tanks of the 30th Mechanized Brigade and artillery of the 17th Tank Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces as the Russians attempted several crossings over the Donets river near the villages of Dronivka, Bilohorivka, and Serebrianka.

    Ukrainian forces had previously managed to repel numerous attempted crossings of the river by Russian forces.[7] The destruction of an entire battalion tactical group on 10 May, however, was described as "the deadliest engagement of the war" so far and was a "disaster" for the Russian army.[2]

    Background

    The Donets, the fourth-longest river in Ukraine and longest in eastern Ukraine, had long been considered to be a strategic line of defense for the Ukrainian army during the Russo-Ukrainian War. Being the longest river in the region, control of the Donets also meant an ability to freely maneuver military hardware north and south along the river's path, impact regional agriculture, and control the water supply to key cities such as Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, Kharkiv, and others.[8]

    During the battle of Donbas, Russian forces advanced forwards from the 2014 line of contact towards the city of Lyman, as part of a wider attempt to encircle a salient containing more than 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers.[9] The Donets river was the largest natural obstacle standing in front of the Russian offensive. Russian attempts to cross the river in other locations, some of which were successful, involved the deployment of pontoon bridges to facilitate the transportation of troops and equipment across the river.[10]

    Battle

    During the early morning of 5 May, the Russian army, following artillery bombardment, tried to make a crossing of the river at Dronivka, but were stopped by Ukrainian troops and tanks. Two Ukrainian tanks of the 30th Mechanized Brigade engaged at least four Russian BMPs, two boats and two infantry squads at a distance of 1,200 metres (1,300 yards),[11] stopping the advance.[citation needed]

    Destroyed Russian bridge and vehicles near Bilohorivka

    On 8 May, Russian forces constructed a pontoon bridge across the Donets at Bilohorivka. Thousands of personnel, tanks, and other military vehicles prepared to cross over to the west bank of the river as part of their wider advance westward towards Lyman.[12]

    On the same day, the Ukrainian 17th Tank Brigade sent a reconnaissance detachment to the west bank of the river to observe Russian progress in the area. Russian troops had thrown smoke grenades in the area, creating difficulties in visibility. To counter this, the Ukrainian forces deployed drones, successfully spotting the pontoon bridge in the early morning.[1] This information was relayed to the Ukrainian Air Force and artillery detachments stationed throughout the area, who pounded the bridge with a combined aerial and artillery bombardment.[13] The bridge was confirmed to have been destroyed by 10 May.[14] Ukrainian infantry claimed 30 vehicles destroyed with another 40 disabled by artillery fire for 70 total at this crossing. Ukrainian forces blew up four separate bridges at the Bilohorivka site alone.[15]

    The last bridge was constructed between Bilohorivka and Serebrianka around 12 May and was also destroyed,[16] with the last Russian troops having retreated to their side of the river on 13 May.[citation needed]

    Casualties and losses

    According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), out of the approximately 550 Russian soldiers who took part in the attempted crossing near Bilohorivka, 485 were killed or wounded, and more than 80 pieces of Russian equipment were destroyed.[2] The Times estimated that over 1,000 soldiers were killed during the battle at the Donets, whereas Newsweek cited Ukrainian claims of up to 1,500 soldiers killed on 10 May during a Ukrainian counterattack and a heavy bombing raid by their aviation.[1][17][18]

    In total, four bridges were constructed and three bridgeheads were established: one at Dronivka, two at Bilohorivka, and another at Serebrianka.[19] The whole battle lasted for eight days (5 May to 13 May), during which all bridges and all bridgeheads were destroyed by the Ukrainian army. In total, two Russian BTGs were reported to have been destroyed and routed.[3]

    According to Serhiy Haidai, the Governor of Luhansk Oblast, during the battle, Ukrainians destroyed Russian tanks, armoured vehicles, bridging equipment, helicopters and speed boats.[2] Haidai claimed that Ukrainian forces destroyed two Russian BTGs, amounting to almost 1,000 soldiers.[6]

    Another source put Russian losses at at least six tanks, fourteen infantry BMP armored vehicles, seven amphibious MT-LB vehicles, five other armored vehicles and a tugboat. Calculations based on drone footage put Russian losses at 73 vehicles and equipment.[20]

    On 11 May 2022, commander of the 12th Engineer Brigade Colonel Denis Kozlov was killed: the second commander of this brigade killed within two months of combat, and the 42nd Russian colonel lost during the open invasion phase of the war.[21]

    Reactions and analysis

    Due to the bloody and costly nature of the river crossing, the battle attracted significant media attention. Most surprisingly,[according to whom?] the battle drew criticisms to the Russian Armed Forces from well-known pro-Russian milbloggers. One such blogger, Yuri Podolyaka, wrote online: "The last straw that overwhelmed my patience was the events around Bilohorivka, where due to stupidity — I emphasize, because of the stupidity of the Russian command — at least one battalion tactical group was burned, possibly two". Podolyaka further stated that the Russian Army lacked necessary weapons and equipment to fight and criticized Russian military leaders for repeating the same mistakes throughout the invasion. Another prominent blogger named Starshe Eddy called the actions of the commanders "not idiocy, but direct sabotage". A third blogger named Vladlen Tatarski was also very critical towards the Russian commanders and their tactics, writing: "Until we get the last name of the military genius who laid down a B.T.G. by the river and he answers for it publicly, we won’t have had any military reforms".[2][22] The ISW stated that these direct criticism from pro-Russian bloggers could be significant in that it may fuel doubts of the Russian people's faith in their military leaders and of the war.[5]

    Military analysts were reportedly stunned by the lack of tactical sense in the attempted river crossing. These analysts speculate that the Russian commanders may have rushed the operation in a desperate attempt to make any sort of military progress. They also suggested the battle showcased the disorder within the Russian ranks.[2]

    Aftermath

    The losses suffered from the battle bogged down the Russian advance in Luhansk Oblast and delayed their advance into northern Donetsk Oblast.[citation needed]

    It was not until around 28–30 June, after the fall of Sievierodonetsk and during the encirclement of Lysychansk, that Russian forces made a notable river crossing of the Donets, with Chechen Kadyrovites and LPR separatist units capturing the town of Pryvillia after a river crossing. An intelligence report by the UK defence ministry said the encirclement of Lysychansk from the south (the Popasna direction) removed the need for a major river crossing by the Russians in the sector.[citation needed]

    Later, Bilohorivka was captured by Russia after the fall of Lysychansk, but Ukraine launched a counterattack aimed on retaking it on 17 July. The counterattack was denied by Russia, and was seen as likely to fail.[23][24][25] However, Bilohorivka was retaken by Ukraine on September 19.[citation needed]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ a b c d Carbonaro, Giulia (12 May 2022). "Ukrainian soldier reveals how he secretly blew up Russian bridge". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    2. ^ a b c d e f g h Troianovski, Anton; Santora, Marc (15 May 2022). "Growing evidence of a military disaster on the Donets pierces a pro-Russian bubble". New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
    3. ^ a b Censor.NET. "Bilohorivka is reliably protected, AFU destroyed more than 100 units of equipment of racists, - Butusov. PHOTOS". Censor.NET. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    4. ^ Daalder, Ivo; Flournoy, Michele; Herbst, John; Lodal, Jan; Pifer, Steven; Stavridis, James; Talbott, Strobe; Wald, Charles (February 2015). "Preserving Ukraine's Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression: What the United States and NATO Must Do" (PDF). Atlantic Council: 12. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
    5. ^ a b Stepanenko, Kateryna; Kagan, Frederick W. (14 May 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 14". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    6. ^ a b "Defeat near Bilohorivka: Enemy lost almost 1,000 soldiers and 100 vehicles". www.ukrinform.net. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    7. ^ Sabbagh, Dan (14 May 2022). "Ukraine repels Russia's attempt to cross Donbas river, and drives invaders away from Kharkiv". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
    8. ^ "Северский Донец". bse.sci-lib.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    9. ^ Davis, Daniel L. (14 April 2022). "Opinion: Why the 'Battle of Donbas' will be a critical moment in the war's outcome". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    10. ^ Watch: CNN explains pivotal role bridges play in Russia's military strategy - CNN Video, 10 May 2022, archived from the original on 13 June 2022, retrieved 17 May 2022
    11. ^ Розгром переправи російських військ через Сіверський Донець. Інтерв'ю з безпосереднім учасником бою., 14 May 2022, archived from the original on 4 June 2022, retrieved 17 May 2022
    12. ^ "Russian army 'lose entire battalion' trying to cross Ukraine bridge". The Independent. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    13. ^ Mendick, Robert (12 May 2022). "A bridge too far for Russian invaders as whole battalion destroyed in failed river crossing mission". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    14. ^ "Russia takes losses in failed river crossing, officials say". Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    15. ^ Kramer, Andrew E.; Prickett, Ivor (25 May 2022). "A Doomed River Crossing Shows the Perils of Entrapment in the War's East". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
    16. ^ Censor.NET. "Successful strikes by AFU on enemy equipment during Seversky Donets crossing. VIDEO". Censor.NET. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    17. ^ Parker, Charlie. "Russian battalion wiped out trying to cross river of death". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
    18. ^ "Russia is counting killed soldiers as "missing" to hide losses: Ukraine". Newsweek. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    19. ^ Censor.NET. "Destruction of Russian armored personnel carriers in attempt to force Seversky Donets and battlefield near Belogorovka and Serebryanka. VIDEO". Censor.NET. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    20. ^ "Russian War Report: Drone footage confirms failed Russian military pontoon crossing". Atlantic Council. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
    21. ^ Sarkar, Alisha Rahaman (18 May 2022). "Vladimir Putin loses 42nd colonel in war with Ukraine". Independent. Archived from the original on 7 June 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022 – via MSN.
    22. ^ "Russia's thwarted Ukraine river crossing was so bloody, pro-Russia war bloggers are publicly griping". The Week. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    23. ^ "Timeline: Week 18 of Russia's war in Ukraine". Al Jazeera. 1 July 2022. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
    24. ^ "'No goodwill gesture': Russia withdrew from Ukraine's Snake Island due to isolation of garrison - UK Defence Ministry". Times Now News. 1 July 2022. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
    25. ^ "Russia-Ukraine War Update for July 1, 2022". Malcontent News. 1 July 2022. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.

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