Shyrokyne standoff

Shyrokyne standoff
Part of War in Donbas

Azov Regiment soldiers and armored vehicle in Shyrokyne.
Date10 February – 3 July 2015
(4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Shyrokyne area, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Result Ceasefire[1]
Territorial
changes
  • Ukrainian forces capture Shyrokyne, Pavlopil, Kominternovo[2] and Oktyabyr[3]
  • Separatists recapture Pavlopil, Pyshchevyk,[4] Vodyane,[5] Kominternovo, Oktyabyr[6] and much of Shyrokyne[7]
  • Ukrainian forces once again capture Pavlopil, Pyshchevyk[8] and Vodyane[9]
  • Separatists withdraw from Shyrokyne, which is destroyed by the fighting,[10] and it becomes a demilitarized zone[11]
Belligerents
Donetsk People's Republic Donetsk PR Ukraine Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Donetsk People's Republic Alexander Zakharchenko Ukraine Andriy Biletsky
Units involved

Novorossiya Armed Forces

Armed Forces of Ukraine

National Guard of Ukraine

Special Tasks Patrol Police

Right Sector

Casualties and losses
110 killed or wounded[13] 60–70 killed
200–250 wounded[14][15]

The Shyrokyne standoff was a battle for the control of the strategic village of Shyrokyne, located approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) east of Mariupol city limits, between Ukrainian forces led by the Azov Regiment, and Russian-backed separatists, between February and July 2015. It was part of the larger war in Donbas. On 10 February 2015, the Azov Regiment launched a surprise offensive against pro-Russian separatists associated with the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) with the aim of pushing the separatist forces away from Mariupol city limits. The village is located just 10 km (6.2 mi) from the Ukrainian-controlled city of Mariupol, and was used as a launching point for separatist attacks on the city, which served as the administrative centre of Donetsk Oblast whilst DPR forces control Donetsk city. Fighting continued until 3 July 2015, when DPR forces unilaterally withdrew from Shyrokyne.[16] Subsequently a cease-fire was declared in the area.[1]

  1. ^ a b "Ukraine's war-torn Shyrokyne struggles to survive despite ceasefire". uatoday.tv. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference rage was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference spearheads was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference sights was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference silent was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Ukraine war map. Russia attacks Ukraine #UkraineUnderAttack". Map of war in Ukraine. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference warheats was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Latest from OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine, 21 April 2015". OSCE. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Latest from the OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine, 30 August 2015". OSCE. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference withdraw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference plea was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "В Сети опубликован новый сюжет о геройском батальоне имени Шейха Мансура. Видео". Hronika.info (in Ukrainian). 9 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Широкино стало символом бессмысленной бойни и неизбежности новой войны". vz.ru. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  14. ^ Nolan Peterson (7 July 2015). "Ukraine: Is the Retreat of Russian-Backed Rebels for Real?". Newsweek. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  15. ^ Военкоры о боях ВСН и ВСУ в районе н.п. Широкино
  16. ^ "Ukraine Rebels Withdraw From Front-Line Villages Near Mariupol". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.