Battle of Ilovaisk

Battle of Ilovaisk
Part of the War in Donbass

Withdrawal of Ukrainian forces on 29th August 2014
Date7 August – 2 September 2014[1]
(3 weeks and 5 days)
LocationIlovaisk
Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Result Decisive DPR/Russian victory;[2][3][4] One factor that lead to the signing of the Minsk Protocol
Belligerents
 Ukraine Donetsk People's Republic
 Russia (denied by Russia)[5][6]
Commanders and leaders
Ukraine Col. Gen. Valeriy Heletey[7]
Ukraine Lt. Gen. Ruslan Khomchak[8]
(Sectoral commander)
Ukraine Semen Semenchenko (WIA)[9]
Ukraine Yuriy Bereza (WIA)[10]
(Dnipro Battalion commander)
Ukraine Ruslan Storcheus †[10]
(Kherson Battalion commander)		 Russia General Valery Gerasimov
(claimed by the SBU)[11]
Aleksandr Zakharchenko
Alexander Khodakovsky
Mikhail Tolstykh ("Givi")[12]
Russia Arseny Pavlov ("Motorola")[13]
Units involved

Ground Forces

National Guard

Patrol Police

Right Sector

  • Ukrainian Volunteer Corps[15]

Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion

Belarusian volunteers

Russian Ground Forces (denied by Russia)

Russian Airborne Troops

Donbass People's Militia:

Strength
Encircled forces:
1,200–1,400[17][18]
Deblock forces:
~400		 4,000–4,100[19]
Casualties and losses
366–459 killed, 158 missing, 429–478 wounded, 128–545 captured (acc. Armed Forces of Ukraine)[20][21][22]
1,000+ killed (acc. Verkhovna Rada & People's Front)[19]		 150–300 killed,[23][24] 20 captured[9] (acc. government & Russian opposition)
200 killed (acc. Al Jazeera)[25]
100 civilians killed[13]

The Battle of Ilovaisk[note 1] started on 7 August 2014, when the Armed Forces of Ukraine and pro-Ukrainian paramilitaries began a series of attempts to capture the city of Ilovaisk from pro-Russian insurgents affiliated with the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).[2][26] Whilst government forces were able to enter the city on 18 August,[27] they became encircled between the 24-26 August by overwhelming Russian military forces that crossed the border, joining the battle.[28][29] After days of encirclement, government forces made an agreement with the insurgents, favoured by Russian president Vladimir Putin, to allow them to retreat from the city.[30] This agreement was not honoured, and many soldiers died whilst trying to escape.[9][31]

The Chief of the General Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko stated on 26 August 2016, that the cause of the battle's outcome was the involvement of Russian troops, along with Ukrainian commanders' incompetence in the planning of the retreat.[32]

Events

Ilovaisk is an important city between the insurgent strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk. Government forces hoped to cut-off insurgent supply lines between these two cities, with the intention of routing insurgents from the city. Government forces made their first attempts to breach the DPR-controlled city on 7 August 2014.[2] Artillery fire was reported in the town on 10 August 2014. Over the next few days, government forces made multiple attempts to enter the city, but were bogged down by heavy fighting with the insurgents.[26]

Government forces enter Ilovaisk

DPR fighters and BTR-80 assault the Azov and Dnipro Battalions
Motorola's Division fighters in Ilovaisk

Government forces attempted to enter Ilovaisk during the day on 18 August, but failed. Led by the Donbas Battalion, government forces launched another attempt to storm the city on the night of 18–19 August.[27][33][34] This attempt was successful, and they raised the Ukrainian flag over the city administration building without any casualties. Ukrainian media viewed this victory as an example of the strength and effectiveness of the government "Anti-Terrorist Operation" (ATO) against the insurgents.[27] As government forces entered the city, Donbas Battalion commander Semen Semenchenko was wounded after being struck by mortar fire[35] and was evacuated for medical treatment. Following the flag-raising, the Internal Affairs ministry said that Ukrainian military, including the Donbas, Dnipro and Azov, were clearing the city of "terrorists", specifically mentioning that they killed "a great number" of insurgents from the Oplot Battalion of the Donbass People's Militia.[34] They also said that reinforcements from the National Guard of Ukraine were forthcoming.[27] After a day of fighting, roughly fifty percent of Ilovaisk was under government control. Governments forces also captured six insurgents, including one Serbian volunteer.[36] Azov and Shakhtarsk battalions left the battle of Ilovaisk that day, heading to reinforce garrisons of Mariupol and Komsomolske cities accordingly.[37][38]

On the following day, 20 August, government forces said they took complete control of Ilovaisk. This was denied by DPR officials, who said that they remained in control. Over the course of the day, government forces fought off numerous insurgent counter-attacks.[39] Street battles took place across the city, and at least nine Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the fighting. Following this, the Donbas Battalion requested reinforcements.[40] By 21 August, amidst heavy and constant fighting, the Internal Affairs ministry stated that twenty-five percent of those from volunteer paramilitary battalions killed since the ATO began were killed in Ilovaisk.[27] No reinforcements for government forces arrived. According to commander Semenchenko, some members of the Donbas Battalion were killed when insurgents flying the Ukrainian flag attacked an ambulance. Semenchenko described this act as "medieval savagery".[27] He also said that the Donbas Battalion had been "abandoned" by both the Ukrainian government and the other volunteer paramilitary battalions, both of which largely withdrew from the city.[27]

Encirclement of government forces; Ilovaisk under siege

Map of the encirclement

The remaining government forces in Ilovaisk became completely encircled by DPR insurgents and Russian reinforcements on 24–26 August, and the fighting continued to take its toll.[9] Ukrainian soldiers started seeing Russian regular army troops on 24 August, and their presence increased over the next few days.[6][30]

On 24 August, around 12:15 AM, a column of BMD-2s of the 331st Airborne Regiment was hit by a Ukrainian anti-tank squad of the 51st Mechanized Brigade near Kuteinykove village. Two BMD-2's were destroyed.[41] The paratroopers left their vehicles and took cover in trees nearby. Several hours later, around 5 PM, they left their cover and were captured by the reconnaissance group of the 51st Mechanized Brigade near Dzerkalne village, the Ukrainian battalion tactical group's field headquarters. Ten paratroopers were captured.[42][43]

On 26 August, a T-72B3 tank of the 6th Tank Brigade was captured by Ukrainian troops of the 51st mechanized brigade in a fight near Ahronomichne village.[44][45] The captured tank took part in another fight that day near Mnohopillya village where the Russian column of mixed 8th Mountain brigade's and 31st Air Assault brigade's units was ambushed by Ukrainian anti-tank artillery squad of 51st Mechanized brigade.[42] 2 soldiers of the 31st Air Assault Brigade and one wounded soldier of the 8th Mountain Brigade were captured by Ukrainian forces.

According to the DPR, a large number of Ukrainian soldiers and paramilitaries were trapped in the town.[46] During the fighting, the Ukrainian commander of the Dnipro Battalion suffered a concussion, while the commander of the Kherson Battalion was killed.[10] In response to commander Semenchenko's pleas, many Euromaidan activists in the Ukrainian capital Kiev protested what they saw as the government's "abandonment" of the volunteers fighting against the insurgents.[47] Repeated artillery barrages launched by insurgent forces from nearby villages caused heavy casualties amongst the trapped government forces.[9]

Attempt to free encircled forces

Ukrainian command attempted to free encircled forces near Ilovaisk. The company tactical group was formed from 92nd Mechanized Brigade that had 276 soldiers, 4 tanks, 3 SPGs and 10+ IFVs. It was sent from Kharkiv oblast in direction of Ilovaisk on 24 August 2014, after it became clear Russian military forces approached Ilovaisk. The unit was supposed to meet an assault squad from Rukh Oporu Battalion and attempt to breach Russian encirclement. Rukh Oporu squad had 90 soldiers and was beefed with 2 IFVs. 92 Brigade's company arrived on 27 August to Komsomolske city and advanced towards Ilovaisk. The column stopped in the field for a night and shortly after it was hit by heavy artillery shelling. The next morning it was completely defeated by Russian paratroopers, losing most vehicles but having relatively low troops casualties, suffering only 8 people dead and several missing. The same fate met Rukh Oporu squad which was defeated on 28 August morning nearby, with the units never meeting.[48]

Government forces retreat and massacre

After days of being under siege in Ilovaisk, commanders of government forces in the city attempted to negotiate an agreement that would allow them to withdraw from the city.[9][12] Russian president Vladimir Putin said in the early morning on 29 August that a "humanitarian corridor for besieged Ukrainian soldiers" should be established, allowing the trapped soldiers to leave Ilovaisk.[30] Yuriy Bereza, a commander in the Dnipro Battalion, managed to quickly reach an agreement with Russian commanders in Ilovaisk to establish such a corridor.[9] DPR prime minister Alexander Zakharchenko confirmed that an agreement had been made, and also said that Ukrainian forces were required to leave their armoured vehicles and ammunition behind as a condition of the agreement.[49]

On 29 August at 06:00, government forces began to move out of Ilovaisk in a column of sixty vehicles.[9] At 8:00, government forces regrouped at Mnohopillya, just south of Ilovaisk proper, forming 2 columns, Northern and Southern, and prepared to withdraw.[50][18] Northern column led by Gen. Ruslan Khomchak was formed from forces of the 17th Tank Brigade, 51st Mechanized Brigade and police units, it had 4 tanks, several IFVs and ~1000 troops.[18] Southern column led by Col. Oleksii Grachov was formed from forces of 93rd Mechanized Brigade and Donbas battalion, it had 2 tanks, including a captured Russian T-72B3, a couple of IFVs, and roughly 600 troops.[51] As this was happening, the Russian commanders attempted to change the terms of the agreement, suggesting a new route out of Ilovaisk, demanding that Ukrainian forces surrender all weaponry, and that they leave behind the volunteer battalions. Lt. General Ruslan Khomchak, commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Ilovaisk, replied that his troops would leave as agreed previously, and ordered them "to march in full battle readiness".[50][18] The first lorry in the column, carrying dead and wounded soldiers, was flying a white flag.

The Northern column advanced 10 kilometres (6 1⁄4 mi) along the corridor, about an hour's drive, but was then surrounded by Russian and insurgent troops.[9][30] At the Oleksandrivka village 2 T-72BAs and an IFV of the Russian 21st Motor Rifle Brigade were destroyed in a clash with Ukrainian forces.[52][53][18] Near the Krasnaya Polyana valley[note 2] Russian troops opened fire on the Northern column with mortars and heavy machine guns, splitting it into two. Half of the column with tanks headed further to Novokaterynivka village while the tail was obliterated, having 6 IFVs and multiple cars of police units destroyed.[18] That valley had a battery of D-30 howitzers of the Russian 1065th Artillery Regiment deployed. Several trucks of the regiment were destroyed near the artillery positions.[54] The armored head of the column reached Novokaterynivka village where several dug in tanks and IFVs were spotted by Ukrainian tankers of the 17th Tank Brigade. After a brief clash, all 4 Ukrainian tanks and IFVs were destroyed. Some crews were able to leave vehicles, 42 Ukrainian soldiers made it out of encirclement and reached Ukrainian positions.[18]

During the withdrawal of the Southern column of Ukrainian forces, around 300 Ukrainian soldiers and Donbas Battalion fighters were able to take Chervonosilske village, losing several IFVs, after the fire was opened on the column by Russian forces. Ukrainian troops seized and destroyed 2 T-72B3 tanks of 6th Tank Brigade that were in that village, captured 2 of brigade's soldiers and 2 paratroopers of 31st Air Assault brigade.[44][55][56] Half of Ukrainian soldiers were already wounded, but they managed to hold the village till the next day. On 30 August, Dnipro-2 Battalion commander Yuriy Lysenko made an attempt to contact Russian commanders. They made an agreement according to which Ukrainian forces will surrender their weapons and will be evacuated under the Red Cross guidance, releasing captured Russian POWs.[57]

Casualties

Burnt civilian car in Ilovaisk after shelling

One fleeing Ukrainian soldier described the situation as "a real meat grinder".[30] The Ukrainian government described the events as a "massacre".[10][58] One insurgent commander said he had taken 173 Ukrainian soldiers prisoner near Ilovaisk, in the aftermath of the ambush. He said that he would use them as laborers to rebuild destroyed Donbass cities.[30] A Ukrainian official said that, in total, more than 500 Ukrainian soldiers had been taken prisoner by pro-Russian forces.[6] Commanders and soldiers of the pro-government volunteer paramilitary battalions, blamed the Ilovaisk incident on Ukrainian army leadership, and felt "betrayed by Ukraine" in its aftermath.[30] According to an advisor of Internal Affairs minister Arsen Avakov, 97 Ukrainian soldiers managed to escape from Ilovaisk on 1 September.[59][60]

Known Russian captured soldiers:

Aftermath

A criminal probe into the failure of government troops in Ilovaisk was opened 4 September.[7] Two months after the battle, many bodies of Ukrainian soldiers were still being found around Ilovaisk. According to head of the Verkhovna Rada's Iloviask investigative committee Andriy Senchenko, up to 1,000 soldiers died in the Battle of Ilovaisk. Defence minister Valeriy Heletey was forced to resign on 14 October, in part because of his responsibility for the failure of military coordination during the battle.[7][65]

In Russian nationalist circles the Russian forces that joined the battle are commonly referred to as "The Northern wind" (Russian: Северный ветер).[66][67][68][69][70][71]

Notes

  1. ↑ In the Ukrainian language, the battle is referred to as the "Ilovaisk Kettle" (Ukrainian: Іловайський котел, Ilovays'kyy kotel). The word "kettle" refers to encirclement by enemy forces, which is termed "falling into the kettle". The word is also used to refer to battles during the Second World War, such as the "Kiev Kettle". It is also applied to the early 2015 Battle of Debaltseve, which has been described as a "Second Ilovaisk".
  2. ↑ 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) to North-East of Horbatenko village

References

  1. ↑ Kate Parkinson (2 September 2014). "Anti-gov't forces in control of eastern town of Ilovaisk". China Central Television News. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Tim Judah (5 September 2014). "Ukraine: A Catastrophic Defeat". The New York Review of Books. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Kim, Lucian. The Battle of Ilovaisk: Details of a Massacre Inside Rebel-Held Eastern Ukraine. Newsweek. 4 November 2014
  4. ↑ Peter Leonard (30 August 2014). "Pro-Russia rebels confident after making gains". bigstory.ap.org. Archived from the original on 2014-09-02. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Lindsey Hilsum (2 September 2014). "Evidence of Russian presence in Ukraine - video". Channel 4 News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Shaun Walker; Oksana Grytsenko (3 September 2014). "Russian soldier: 'You're better clueless because the truth is horrible'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 "Bodies of victims of Ilovaisk massacre still being found, counted weeks later". Kyiv Post. 16 October 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  8. ↑ Howard Amos in Moscow and Roland Oliphant in Mariupol (31 August 2014). "Vladimir Putin demands negotiations over 'statehood' for eastern Ukraine". The Daily Telegraph.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Ukraine Suffers Harsh Defeat in Eastern Town". The Wall Street Journal. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Oksana Grytsenko (3 September 2014). "Survivors recall Ilovaisk massacre". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Russian Army General Staff Chief Gerasimov, ten Russian military servicemen suspected of involvement in Ilovaisk tragedy - SBU". Kyiv Post. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Pro-Russian rebels take Ukrainian town". CNN. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  13. 1 2 Lucian Kim (4 November 2014). "The Battle of Ilovaisk: Details of a Massacre Inside Rebel-Held Eastern Ukraine". Newsweek. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  14. ↑ Roman Svyrydov (26 August 2014). "Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs: Commander of the Kherson Battalion and its driver were lost near Ilovaysk". News.pn. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  15. ↑ http://gazeta.zn.ua/internal/podvig-i-tragediya-ilovayska-_.html
  16. ↑ Shaun Walker; Oksana Grytsenko; Leonid Ragozin (4 September 2014). "Russian soldier: 'You're better clueless because the truth is horrible'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  17. ↑ Dan Peleschuk (29 August 2015). "Ukraine is still at war, and its bloodiest battle isn't over". GlobalPost. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Серпень 2014 року. Іловайськ. Частина ІV. Чому і як виходила з оточення «північна» група генерала Руслана Хомчака" [August 2014. Ilovaisk. Chapter 4. Why and how the Northern column of Gen. Ruslan Khomchak tried to break through.]. tyzhden.ua. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  19. 1 2 "About 1,000 soldiers killed in Ilovaisk battle - parliament commission". uatoday.tv. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "The missing: what have they done with our sons?". The Guardian. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  21. ↑ Interfax Ukraine (17 April 2015). "Up to 459 Ukrainian soldiers killed near Ilovaisk in 2014 - Ukraine's chief military prosecutor".
  22. ↑ "Ukraine crisis: Troops abandon Luhansk airport after clashes". BBC News. 1 September 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014.
  23. ↑ "Nemtsov allies release report on Russian involvement in Ukraine". The Malaysian Insider. AFP. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  24. ↑ "107 Ukrainian and 300 Russian soldiers Killed near Ilovaisk - Defense Minister". 14 September 2014.
  25. ↑ Ukraine war: Mothers in search of disappeared sons
  26. 1 2 Батальоны "Донбасс" и "Азов" понесли потери в бою за Иловайск [Battalions "Donbass" and "Azov" suffered losses in the battle for Ilovajsk]. TSN (in Russian). 11 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lily Hyde (24 August 2014). "Abandoned Donbas Battalion fights on". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  28. ↑ Ivan, Katchanovski,. "The Separatist War in Donbas: A Violent Break-up of Ukraine?". European Politics and Society. 17.
  29. ↑ Censor.NET. "Military Prosecutor`s Office extends investigation of Ilovaisk tragedy, - Military Prosecutor Matios". EN.Censor.net. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Oksana Grytsenko (3 September 2014). "Survivors recall Ilovaisk massacre". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  31. ↑ Jamie Dettmer (24 November 2014). "Should the U.S. Arm Ukraine's Militias?". The Daily Beast. Dnipropetrovsk. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  32. ↑ Kyiv honoring soldiers killed in 2014 Ilovaisk battle, UNIAN (29 August 2016)
  33. ↑ Из "иловайского котла" вырвались еще 84 украинских бойца. Segodnya (in Russian). 1 September 2014. Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  34. 1 2 "Government forces clearing Ilovaisk of snipers". National News Agency of Ukraine. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  35. ↑ "Ukrainian troops inch closer to rebel city Donetsk". Hindustan Times. Associated Press. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  36. ↑ "Serbian national from Slovakia is captured after the Battle of Ilovaisk". Euromaidan Press. 19 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  37. ↑ "Turning Point". kyivpost.com. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  38. ↑ "Серпень 2014-го. Іловайськ. Частина ІІ." [August 2014. Ilovaisk. Chapter 2.]. tyzhden.ua. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  39. ↑ "Ukraine conflict: Fierce battle for town of Ilovaisk". BBC News. 20 August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  40. ↑ Richard Balmforth (20 August 2014). "Street Battles in Eastern Ukraine Town Kill Nine: Ministry". Business Insider/Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  41. ↑ "Remains of Russian BMD-2 near Kuteinykove. 2014. According to shape and place of tactical insignia, the BMD belonged to 331 Airborne Regiment. : Askai on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  42. 1 2 "КАПИТАН, КОТОРЫЙ ИЗМЕНИЛ ХОД ВОЙНЫ" [The captain who changed the course of the war]. Censor.net (in Russian). Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  43. ↑ "КОГДА И КАК ВЗЯЛИ В ПЛЕН ДЕСЯТЬ РОССИЙСКИХ ДЕСАНТНИКОВ 24 АВГУСТА 2014 ГОДА?" [When and how 10 Russian paratroopers were captured]. Censor.net (in Russian). Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  44. 1 2 "Russia's 6th Tank Brigade: The Dead, the Captured, and the Destroyed Tanks (Pt. 1) – bellingcat". 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
  45. ↑ Цензор.НЕТ. "ПОЛКОВНИК КОВАЛЬСКИЙ: "РОССИЙСКИЙ Т-72Б3 МЫ ЗАХВАТИЛИ НЕОЖИДАННО ДЛЯ САМИХ СЕБЯ - ДЛЯ БОЛЬШИНСТВА ЭТО БЫЛ ПЕРВЫЙ БОЙ"" [Russian T-72B3 was captured unexpectedly even for ourselves]. Цензор.НЕТ (in Russian). Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  46. ↑ "Donetsk militias encircle Ukrainian troops near Ilovaisk". Information Telegraph Agency of Russia. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  47. ↑ "Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 28 August 2014" (Press release). Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  48. ↑ "Серпень 2014. Іловайськ. Частина ІІІ. Спроба деблокади «Іловайського котла», 27 – 28 серпня" [August 2014. Ilovaisk. Chapter 3. Attempt to deblock "Ilovaisk kettle".]. tyzhden.ua. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  49. ↑ "Eastern Ukraine rebel leader agrees to let encircled Ukraine troops leave". Reuters. 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 30 August 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  50. 1 2 Lucian Kim (4 November 2014). "THE BATTLE OF ILOVAISK: DETAILS OF A MASSACRE INSIDE REBEL-HELD EASTERN UKRAINE". Newsweek. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  51. ↑ "Серпень 2014 року. Іловайськ. Частина V. Вихід «південної» групи." [August 2014. Ilovaisk. Chapter 5. Breakthrough of Southern column.]. tyzhden.ua. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  52. ↑ "'Orenburg Weather' Destroyed Tanks of the 21st Brigade Near Starobesheve - InformNapalm.org (English)". InformNapalm.org (English). 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  53. ↑ "Exclusive: Charred tanks in Ukraine point to Russian involvement". Reuters. 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  54. ↑ "Як російські війська 23 серпня заходили на Донбас" [How Russian troops entered Donbas on 23 August]. tyzhden.ua. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  55. ↑ "Russia's 6th Tank Brigade: The Dead, the Captured, and the Destroyed Tanks (Pt. 2) – bellingcat". 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
  56. ↑ "Internet Users Have Identified Russian Soldiers Captured Near Ilovaisk - InformNapalm.org (English)". InformNapalm.org (English). 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  57. ↑ ""Русские просили подождать 15 минут. Генерал приказал нам стрелять и идти на прорыв"". LB.ua. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  58. ↑ Pavel Polityuk; Kiryl Sukhotski (2 September 2014). "Russian forces strengthening positions in Ukraine - Kiev military". Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  59. ↑ "97 soldiers of "Donbas" battalion break siege near Ilovaisk". The National Radio Company of Ukraine. 1 September 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  60. ↑ "Kyiv says over 50 soldiers break siege near Ilovaisk". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 1 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  61. ↑ Regained consciousness and appeared to be located in Ukraine. Gazeta.ru. 17 September 2014
  62. 1 2 Bodies of the Russian Army soldiers near Ilovaisk
  63. ↑ Russian Airborne Akhmetov and Ilmitov. Lifenews
  64. ↑ Russian soldiers that participated in military action in the eastern Ukraine
  65. ↑ "Ukraine Turns To New Defence Chief Ahead of Russia Talks". Defense News. Agence France-Presse. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  66. ↑ "'There Are Troops Jack' (Murphy) -- US Servicemen Reportedly Filmed in 'ATO' Combat Zone of E Ukraine/Donbass". Rogue Money. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  67. ↑ "Southfront: D.C. Establishment/Dirty Deep State Trying to Escalate Ukraine Conflict to Demonize Russia and Help Hillary". Rogue Money. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  68. ↑ "Донбасс: прорыв с юга и «северный ветер» в Иловайске".
  69. ↑ "Иловайск: два года спустя". Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  70. ↑ "Комментарий от военного обозревателя Бориса Рожина ("colonelcassad").". Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  71. ↑ "Северный ветер: роль российских "отпускников" в конфликте на Донбассе - Zarodinu.org.ua". zarodinu.org.ua. Retrieved 2017-01-31.

Coordinates: 48°20′00″N 38°25′00″E / 48.3333°N 38.4167°E / 48.3333; 38.4167

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