Marinka, Ukraine
Marinka (Ukrainian: Мар'їнка) is a town and the administrative center of Marinka Raion, Donetsk Oblast (province), Ukraine.[1] Population: 9,913 (2013 est.)[2]; 10,722 (2001).
Early history[edit]
The town was founded in the first half of the 19th century by migrants from the Ukrainian villages of Poltava Governorate and Kharkov Governorate.
War in Donbass[edit]
Starting in mid-April 2014 pro-Russian rebels captured several towns in Donetsk Oblast;[3][4] including Marinka.[5] On August 5, 2014, Ukrainian forces recaptured control of Marinka from pro-Russian militants.[6] Ukrainian forces involved in the recapture included the Azov Battalion, whose flag flew in the city in early August.[7] From then pro-Russian rebels accused Ukrainian troops of using their positions in Marinka to shell (rebel controlled) Donetsk - a claim denied by the Ukrainian military.[8]
Battle of Marinka[edit]
On 3 June 2015, fresh violence returned to the area as pro-Russian rebels launched an offensive on the city involving 1,000 fighters, tanks and heavy artillery.[8][9] The rebels stated they only engaged in defence measures after an assault by the Ukrainian army.[10] According to the Daily Beast, video footage showed outgoing artillery fire originating in residential areas in Donetsk held by the rebels, directed at Ukrainian government positions, a violation of both the Minsk II agreement and Geneva Conventions. The attacking rebel forces included a number of Russian soldiers sent by the Kremlin.[11] By then the town had already been devastated by months of heavy fighting.[8]
According to the BBC, the 3 June 2015 fighting was the heaviest of the War in Donbass since the so called Minsk II ceasefire was signed on 11 February 2015.[8][12] In the early evening of 3 June 2015, Donetsk People's Republic's Defence Minister Vladimir Kononov and the Ukrainian military confirmed to the OSCE that Marinka was under Ukrainian control.[13] According to OSCE figures, 28 people, including 9 civilians, were killed in Marinka on 3 June 2015.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ Encyclopedia of Ukraine, Google Books
- ^ "Чисельність наявного населення України (Actual population of Ukraine)" (in Ukrainian). State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "putin-accidentally-helping-unite-eastern-and-western-ukraine", newrepublic.com.
- ^ en.itar-tass.com
- ^ "airstrike-kills-nine-as-apartment-block-demolished-in-ukraine", irishtimes.com.
- ^ "Ukraine fighting reaches rebel-held Donetsk", AP, August 5, 2014.
- ^ Kramer, Andrew E., "Ukraine Strategy Bets On Restraint by Russia", New York Times, August 9, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
- ^ a b c d Ukraine crisis: Violence flares up near Donetsk, BBC News (3 June 2015)
- ^ Kremlin-separatist forces try to take Maryinka as fighting breaks out along front line, Kyiv Post (3 June 2015)
- ^ Ukraine at risk of return to full war after major battle in Donetsk, The Guardian (3 June 2015)
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Ukraine ceasefire deal agreed at Belarus talks". The Guardian. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ Spot report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), 3 June 2015: Fighting around Marinka, OSCE (4 June 2015)
- ^ 28 killed in recent Maryinka battle – UN, Ukraine Today (5 June 2015)
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Coordinates: 47°56′31″N 37°30′13″E / 47.94194°N 37.50361°E
