| Battle of Mykolaiv | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Kherson offensive and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Russia |
 Ukraine | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown |
| ||||||
The Battle of Mykolaiv is an ongoing military engagement which started on the night of 26 February 2022, as part of the Kherson offensive during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Mykolaiv is a strategically important shipbuilding city on the Black Sea and on 4 March was "seen as the next key stepping stone for Russian forces on the road to Odessa."[5] The city contains the only permanent bridge across the Southern Bug River.[6]
Battle
During the afternoon hours of 26 February 2022, 12 Russian tanks managed to break through in Kakhovka on the Dnieper and began heading towards Mykolaiv.[7] Vitaly Kim, the governor of Mykolaiv Oblast, stated that the city had 5 hours to prepare.[8][9] Artillery and other arms had also been prepared.[10]
By around 18:52, tanks were in the outskirts of the city and the mayor ordered citizens to stay at home and as far away from windows as possible.[11] Shortly after, troops entered the city and a battle on the Southern Bug erupted around 10 minutes later.[12] According to some reports, tanks "passed through the city".[13] Russian forces had also taken over the Mykolaiv Zoo.[14] After roughly three hours of fighting, Russian forces were driven away by Ukrainian forces, and while some Russian tanks reportedly bypassed the city, fighting continued.[15] Extensive fighting was recorded in Korabel'nyy Raion, on 6th Slobidska Street, and on Central Avenue.[16]
By the early morning of 27 February, Ukrainian officials claimed that Russian forces were fully driven away from the city, with Kim posting on Telegram, "Mykolaiv is ours! Glory to Ukraine!" (Миколаїв наш! Слава Україні[!]).[17] Some Russian soldiers were captured. The city was extensively damaged.[18][19][20]
On 28 February, Russian troops advanced from Kherson towards Mykolaiv, reaching the city's outskirts and launching an assault at 11:00.[21][22]
On 1 March, according to Ukrainian officials a Russian column near the city of Bashtanka, just north of Mykolaiv, was defeated by Ukrainian forces.[23][24]
The Ukrainian Navy scuttled their only frigate and the flagship of the Ukrainian Navy Hetman Sahaidachny in the port of Mykolaiv on or before 3 March. On that day, a photo was published showing the frigate partially sunk in port.[25][26]
On 4 March, the Ukrainian Defence Minister confirmed that Hetman Sahaidachny had been scuttled to prevent its capture by the Russian forces.[27][28] Kim later announced that Russian troops were driven out of the city but were counterattacking. Ukrainian soldiers recaptured Kulbakino airport.[29] Mayor Oleksandr Senkevich said that Russian troops were attacking the city from the north, east and south. Ukrainian troops held a single drawbridge spanning the Southern Bug, the easiest route for Russian forces to reach the port of Odessa.[30] Russian forces were later forced to retreat back beyond the city limits.[3]
On 7 March, Kim stated that Ukrainian forces had recaptured the Mykolaiv International Airport and civilians could now leave the city.[31] At 05:00 Russian troops started shelling the city and a Kalibr cruise missile hit a military barrack, killing eight soldiers and wounding 19, while another eight were missing. Heavy clashes meanwhile took place to the east of the city. A tank battle also broke out at the airport. The shelling stopped around the evening, with Ukrainian forces declaring they had repelled the attackers.[3]
References
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/06/world/europe/ukraine-beats-russia-mykolaiv.html
- ^ Schwirtz, Michael (6 March 2022). "Proud Band of Ukrainian Troops Holds Russian Assault at Bay — for Now". New York Times. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ a b c Michael Schwirtz (7 March 2022). "Ukrainian forces have repelled another Russian assault on Mykolaiv, officials say". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "The Ukrainian Navy's Flagship Appears To Have Been Scuttled". The Drive. 3 March 2022.
- ^ Walker, Shaun. "Russian forces push to take key port of Odesa as fighting near Kyiv rages". No. 4 March 2022. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 4". Institute for the Study of War. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Миколаїв готується до кругової оборони: до міста прориваються 12 танків". 24tv (in Ukrainian). 24-Канал. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Mazurenko, Alona (26 February 2022). "Миколаїв готується до кругової оборони: пруть ворожі танки". 24tv (in Ukrainian). 24-Канал. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Russian invasion update: Mykolaiv preparing for all-round defense, tanks break through from Kakhovka". Ukrinform. Ukrinform. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Kornilov, Mikhailo (26 February 2022). "Миколаїв готується до кругової оборони". Telegraf (in Ukrainian). Telegraf. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Миколаїв готується до оборони: розвели міст через річку, а людей просять не виходити". TSN (in Ukrainian). Televiziyna Sluzhba Novyn. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Kniazhik, Oksana (26 February 2022). "Бои за Николаев: в городе слышны выстрелы, объявлен сбор медиков". 24tv (in Ukrainian). 24-Канал. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Poliakovska, Tanya (26 February 2022). "Танки пройшли через Миколаїв зі стріляниною – ОДА". Unian (in Ukrainian). Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "У передмісті Миколаєва йде танковий бій". Niknews (in Ukrainian). 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Kushnerik, Tetyana (26 February 2022). "У Миколаєві тероборона дала бій російським танкам". Glavkom (in Ukrainian). ГЛАВКОМ. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "В Николаев заходили российские танки: что известно". VN (in Ukrainian). Vechernyy Nikolaev. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Миколаїв залишається під контролем України". TSN (in Ukrainian). Televiziyna Sluzhba Novyn. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ @GoncharenkoUa (27 February 2022). "Mykolaiv's center after the night battle. Welcome to hell" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Инсайдер Украина Новости Война". Telegram (via Twitter link) (in Ukrainian). Insider Ukraine. 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ @MilitaryLandnet (26 February 2022). "After fierce fighting, Ukrainian troops repulses the enemy attack on #Mykolaiv" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Several killed as Russian rockets pound Ukraine's Kharkiv". Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, FEBRUARY 28, 2022". Institute for the Study of War. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ Mazurenko, Alona (2 March 2022). "У Миколаєві висадився ворожий десант. Людей просять покинути вулиці". Українська Правда (in Ukrainian). Ukrayinska Pravda. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
((cite news)): CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Міський голова Миколаєва розповів про ситуацію в місті". TSN (in Ukrainian). Televiziyna Sluzhba Novyn. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Evans, Michael. "Ukraine scuttles its flagship frigate as the Russians close in". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "The Ukrainian Navy's Flagship Appears To Have Been Scuttled". The Drive. 3 March 2022.
- ^ "Hetman Sahaidachny frigate, being under repair, flooded not to get to enemy – Reznikov". Interfax Ukraine. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Evans, Michael (4 March 2022). "Ukraine scuttles its flagship frigate as Russians close in". The Times. The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Ukrainian defenders repelled attack on Mykolaiv city, fighting continues on outskirts". Ukrinform. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Schwirtz, Michael (4 March 2022). "In a surrounded Ukrainian city, residents vow to fight to the end". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Ukrainian forces have retaken Mykolayiv regional airport, says governor". Reuters. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
