The battles of Dovhenke were military engagements in the village of Dovhenke, 20 kilometers south of the city of Izium, between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the Northeastern Ukraine offensive and Eastern Ukraine offensive of the battle of Donbas.

Background

Main articles: Northeastern Ukraine offensive, Eastern Ukraine offensive, and Battle of Donbas (2022)
Further information: Battle of Izium (2022)

Dovhenke is a village on the border between Kharkiv and Donetsk Oblasts. On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, in a steep escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which had begun in 2014. The invasion caused Europe's fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II,[2][3] with more than 6.5 million Ukrainians fleeing the country[4] and a third of the population displaced.[5][6] On 1 April, the Ukrainian military confirmed Izium was under Russian control.[7][8] The following day, in an interview for Ukrinform, Izium's Deputy Mayor Volodymyr Matsokin claimed that 80% of the city's residential buildings had been destroyed and that there was no power, heating, or water in the city.[9]

Battles

First Battle

On 11 April, Russian forces launched an attack against Dovhenke and Dmytrivka [uk], which was repelled by Ukrainian forces.[10]

On 15 May, the Ukrainian military announced that Russia had launched a new assault to take the village.[11]

On 6 June, according to the Ukrainian News Agency, Ukrainian soldiers repulsed a new attack on Dovhenke, with Russian forces withdrawing part of their units to Izium due to losses sustained.[12] Around this time, Russian State Duma Deputy Alexander Borodai reportedly traveled to Dovhenke to take part in the assault on the village with the Donbas Volunteer Union.[13]

Aftermath of the First Battle

By 12 June, Ukraine reported the Russian army was conducting an assault from Dovhenke towards Mazanivka and Dolina, indicating the village had been captured by Russian forces.[14]

As of 25 June, fighting continued near Dovhenke,[15] but at the end of the month, Russian operations moved to the south of the village,[16] with Russian troops attempting to advance from Dovhenke towards Mazanivka.[17]

Second Battle

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.[1] The next day, there was heavy Russian bombardment in the area, including in Dovhenke;[18] this continued on 7 August.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21] On 9 August, Arestovych said that "Dovhenke is already behind us, according to some data. We have moved them."[22] That day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Dovhenke and several other villages were being attacked by Russian forces.[23] Russian forces shelled Dovhenke and the villages around on 10 August. Fighting stagnated until September 6th, when a counteroffensive drove Russia from Dovhenke. It later pushed Russia from most of the Kharkiv oblast.[24]

  • Destructions in the village

    Destructions in the village

  • Destroyed WWII memorial

    Destroyed WWII memorial

  • Destroyed historical exhibition

    Destroyed historical exhibition

  • Inscriptions left by Russian soldiers

    Inscriptions left by Russian soldiers

References

  1. ^ a b "Ми вже наступаємо", - Арестович прокоментував військову ситуацію у Харківській області
  2. ^ Blake, Daniel Keane, Elly (15 March 2022). "What is the Homes for Ukraine refugees scheme and how do you apply?". Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  3. ^ Pita, Antonio; Costa, Raúl Sánchez (3 March 2022). "Ukrainian exodus could be Europe's biggest refugee crisis since World War II". El Pais. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  5. ^ Ratcliffe, Rebecca; Clayton, Abené; Gabbatt, Adam; Chao-Fong, Léonie; Lock, Samantha; Ambrose, Tom (19 March 2022). "Biden outlines 'consequences' if China aids Russia – as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Ukraine war: Putin being misled by fearful advisers, US says". BBC News. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  7. ^ "На Київщині ЗСУ звільнили 15 населених пунктів – зведення Генерального штабу". Радіо Свобода. 2022-04-01.
  8. ^ "The russians are controlling Izyum – General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces".
  9. ^ "Izyum city government: Izyum 80% destroyed".
  10. ^ Knyazhik, Oksana (11 April 2022). "Росіяни намагалися взяти Довгеньке та Дмитрівку і штурмували Золоте: нічого не вдалося" (in Ukrainian). 24 Kanal.
  11. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 15". Critical Threats. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Russian Troops Trying To Advance In Direction Of Dovhenke Of Kharkiv Region - AFU". Ukrainian News. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  13. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 6". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Armed Forces of Ukraine are killing the invaders on all fronts, the battle for Sievierodonetsk continues - the General Staff report". Yahoo News. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  15. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 25". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  16. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 29". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  17. ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 30". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  18. ^ Окупанти наступали на трьох напрямках, але отримали відсіч – зведення Генштабу
  19. ^ Російські військові намагалися вести штурм у Харківській області
  20. ^ "М'ясорубка" під Бахмутом та "спека" під Херсоном: хроніка війни 8 серпня
  21. ^ Сбиты семь украинских беспилотников и три ракеты «Точка-У» — Минобороны
  22. ^ Арестович прокоментував військову ситуацію у Харківській області
  23. ^ Постійні обстріли, нові навчання білорусі та невдалі штурми ворога: що відбувається на фронті
  24. ^ На Харківському напрямку ЗСУ змусили окупантів тікати після невдалого штурму — Генштаб