Battle of Kreminna | |||||||
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Part of the Donbas offensive of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
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Casualties and losses | |||||||
200 civilians killed[1] |
The Battle of Kreminna was a military engagement between Russia and Ukraine over the Eastern Ukrainian city of Kreminna. It is regarded as the first battle during the Battle of Donbas.[2]
Background
Kreminna, a city of 18,000 has been a strategic city since the beginning of Russian invasion of Ukraine because it is a passage to Kramatorsk, which is only a 1 hour drive from Kreminna.[3]
Battle
On 18 April, Russian forces entered Kreminna, where the Governor of Luhansk Oblast Serhiy Haidai reported that street fights began and that evacuation was not possible. Tanks and other weaponry also entered where civilians were surrounded by Russian troops.[4] Russian forces attacked from all sides, encircling the city.[5] Fighting continued throughout the night with heavy artillery fire being shot around the streets. Russian forces later captured the city hall on the 19 April.[citation needed] That evening, Serhiy reported that the remaining Ukrainian troops withdrew, giving Russian troops full control of the city.[6]
Aftermath
Kreminna was the first city to fall during the Donbas Offensive that was announced by Russia on 18 April.[3] The governor reported that 200 civilians were killed, but there could have been more.[1] Ukrainian officials reported on 25 April that Russian forces were killed in a explosion in the Kreminna City Hall by a gas explosion.[7] Russian forces control the city.
References
- ^ a b "Regional governor says Russian forces have seized east Ukrainian city of Kreminna". Reuters.com. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ "April 18, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news". Amp.cnn.com. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
- ^ a b "Russia's Donbas offensive advances with fall of Kreminna". Amp.france24.com. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
- ^ "Ukraine says Russian forces have entered Kreminna city". Aa.com.tr. 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
- ^ "Russian forces capture city of Kreminna, as attacks continue in country's eastern Donbas region - ABC News". Amp.abc.net.au. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
- ^ "Russian forces seize Kreminna in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region - as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
- ^ "Luhansk Military Administration: Russian occupiers and their collaborators die in an explosion in Kreminna City Hall". Pravda.com.ua. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-05-31.