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Avdiivka

Coordinates: 48°08′43″N 37°44′42″E / 48.14528°N 37.74500°E / 48.14528; 37.74500
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For the village in Russia, see Avdeyevka, Russia.

Avdiivka
Авдіївка
City
Avdiivka in June 2007
Avdiivka in June 2007
Avdiivka Flag
Flag
Avdiivka
Coat of arms
Avdiivka is located in Donetsk Oblast
Avdiivka
Avdiivka shown within Donetsk
Avdiivka is located in Ukraine
Avdiivka
Avdiivka shown within Ukraine
Coordinates: 48°08′43″N 37°44′42″E / 48.14528°N 37.74500°E / 48.14528; 37.74500
Country Ukraine
OblastDonetsk Oblast
RaionPokrovsk Raion
HromadaAvdiivka urban hromada
Founded1778
City status1956
Government
 • TypeCivil-military administration[1]
 • HeadVitalii Barabash[1]
Area
 • Total
29 km2 (11 sq mi)
Elevation
212 m (696 ft)
Population
 (8 February 2024)[2]
 • Total
941
 • Density32/km2 (84/sq mi)
 In January 2022, prior to the invasion, the population of the city was 31,392.[3]
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
86060-86075
Area Code+380 6236
ClimateDfb
KOATUU1410200000
Map

Avdiivka (Ukrainian: Авдіївка, IPA: [ɐu̯ˈd⁽ʲ⁾ijiu̯kɐ]; Russian: Авдеевка, romanized: Avdeyevka, IPA: [ɐvˈdʲejɪfkə]) is a city in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. The city is located in the centre of the oblast, just north of the regional centre, Donetsk. The large Avdiivka Coke Plant is located in Avdiivka. The city had a population of 31,392 (2022 estimate)[3] before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but it was reported as 1,600 in October 2023, and then "just over 1,000", mostly living below ground level.[4][5]

Avdiivka was within the claimed boundaries of the separatist Donetsk People's Republic, before Russia declared its annexation of the region in September 2022. During the war in Donbas, Avdiivka became a frontline city and saw a battle in 2017. During the Russian invasion beginning in 2022, heavy fighting led to most of its population fleeing and the city being largely destroyed. It was captured by Russian forces on 17 February 2024, when Ukrainian forces fled to avoid encirclement.[6]

History

Early history

The presence of nomadic peoples in the area of Avdiivka dates back to at least the ninth to thirteenth centuries, as evidenced by a stone sculpture (or baba) that was discovered in a mound.[7]

The first settlement on the territory of the modern city was founded c. 1770,[8] by fugitive serfs from the Kursk, Voronezh and Poltava Governorates. It was named after the name of the first settler, Avdiivka.[8][7] In 1778, by order of the Novorossiysk governor, the newly established village became state property.[7] The way of life of the early Avdiivka settlers was agricultural farming of crops, mainly cereals. In 1798, it had a population of about 500 people. The fertile land attracted more settlers over time, and Avdiivka was located near a postal route connecting Mariupol and Bakhmut. By 1861, 2,300 people lived there.[7]

In the late 19th century, the Catherine Railway was built. It passed through a newly built railway station at Avdiivka, spurring on further development.[8][7] According to the 1897 census, the number of residents decreased to 2,153 (1,282 males and 871 females), of whom 2,057 were of the Orthodox faith.[citation needed] A brick factory was built in the village in 1900. The factory expanded its output to include tiles in 1905.[7] In 1908, 5,475 people (2,736 males and 2,739 females) lived in the village and there were 865 farm households.[citation needed]

20th century and early 21st century

In April 1920, a detachment of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine attacked the Avdiivka railway station, where they destroyed railway property and telephone sets. In November 1920, Nestor Makhno ordered the detachment of Fyodor Shuss to occupy Avdiivka and the village near it.[citation needed]

Between 1923 and 1931, Avdiivka served as the administrative center of Avdiivka Raion in Stalino Okruh.[8]

It served again as district center of Avdiivka Raion starting in 1938.[8] During World War II, Avdiivka was occupied by Nazi Germany between 21 October 1941 and 8 September 1943, when it was recaptured by detachments of the 40th Rifle Division and the 127th Rifle Division of the Red Army.[7]

Avdiivka received city status in 1956.[8] In October 1959, construction on the Avdiivka Coke Plant began. The plant became operational on 30 November 1963. It became the largest coke-chemical producer in Ukraine.[8][7] Also in 1963, Avdiivka was removed from Avdiivka Raion again,[8] to briefly become a city of oblast significance.[7] From 1965 it was included as part of Yasynuvata Raion, until 1990 when it became a city of oblast significance again.[8] By 2001, its population was 37,200.[9]

Russo-Ukrainian War

War in Donbas

Further information: Battle of Avdiivka (2017) and Battle of Avdiivka (2023–2024)

During the War in Donbas, starting in April 2014, pro-Russian separatists captured several towns in Donetsk Oblast;[10][11] including Avdiivka.[citation needed] On 30 July 2014, Ukrainian forces reportedly secured the city from separatists.[12][13] Ukrainian forces kept control of Avdiivka, which became a frontline city and was frequently shelled.[14][15] According to the OSCE, the area between Avdiivka and neighboring separatist-controlled Yasynuvata is one of the hotspots of the Russo-Ukrainian War.[16]

In March 2016 the Ukrainian army set up its fortifications in the area's "industrial zone", until then a buffer zone between the Donetsk People's Republic controlled territories and government-held territory in the eastern part of Avdiivka.[17] This meant that the pro-Russian separatists no longer had full control of the highway that connected Donetsk and Horlivka (two major cities under their control), and that it was more difficult for them to fire at Avdiivka, even with weapons that Minsk II did not prohibit.[17] After March 2016, fighting for Avdiivka's "industrial zone" greatly intensified.[17]

In 2017, the city was embroiled in a battle from 29 January to 4 February, which left the city without electricity and heating for several days.[18][19][20] The population dropped to 5,000 during the most violent part of the fighting, but people returned as fighting died down.[21] In 2018, the New York Times estimated that between 20,000 and 34,000 people were still living in Avdiivka.[22]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

As part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian forces fired rockets towards Avdiivka, most notably the coke plant in the city.[23] Much of the civilian population fled due to the battle.[24] On 24 October 2023, BBC News reported that "just over 1,000" people, or 3% of the city's pre-war population, were still living in Avdiivka.[5] On 22 February 2023, Governor of Donetsk Oblast Pavlo Kyrylenko declared that Avdiivka was almost completely destroyed.[25] In March, Russian troops were attempting to encircle the city while also attempting to capture Bakhmut.[26] Beginning on 14 October 2023, Russia made a general push to attempt to encircle the city once more, at first with very limited success and high losses of soldiers, armour and other important assets.[27][28]

On 17 February 2024, Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced that Ukrainian forces were being withdrawn from the city "to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of service personnel."[29][30]

Demographics

Population census
YearPop.±% p.a.
1798 500[7]—    
1861 2,300[7]+2.45%
2001 37,200[9]+2.01%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2017 5,000[21]−11.79%
2022 31,392[3]+44.40%
2023 1,600[31]−94.90%

In the 2001 Ukrainian census, ethnic and linguistic data was recorded. Avdiivka's population are majority ethnic Ukrainians (63.5%), with a large minority of Russians (33.7%), and small minorities of Belarusians (0.9%) and Greeks (0.6%).[32] At the time, it had an overall population of 37,200 people.[9]

In terms of native language, Avdiivka is overwhelmingly Russian-speaking, with 87.2% of Avdiivka residents reporting their native language as Russian. The largest linguistic minority are Ukrainian speakers, with 12.5% reporting their native language as Ukrainian. There are also two very small linguistic minorities, with 0.1% reporting Belarusian as their native language and another 0.1% reporting Armenian.[32]

Industry and infrastructure

Avdiivka Coke Plant, July 2012

Local heating energy is normally provided via natural gas from the Avdiivka Coke Plant. In 2017, the plant was damaged during a bombardment by pro-Russian separatists, leaving the town without heating for several days.[19][20]

The city is also home to the Avdiivka Factory of Metallic Structures, a quartz sand quarry and a number of other factories and industrial facilities.

Connecting Avdiivka Coke Plant with the city centre is a local tramway service.[33] Due to the war in Donbas it is no longer operating.[33] The line had three rail stops[33] and the city train station.

A railway divides the city into the old city and the "Khimik" (lit. 'chemist') microdistrict.[citation needed]

Notable people

  • St. Mary Magdalene Church, January 2008
    St. Mary Magdalene Church, January 2008
  • Memorial stone commemorating the opening of Avdiivka railway station in 1884
    Memorial stone commemorating the opening of Avdiivka railway station in 1884
  • A tram in Avdiivka, July 2012
    A tram in Avdiivka, July 2012
  • Old sand quarry in Avdiivka, June 2007
    Old sand quarry in Avdiivka, June 2007
  • Memorial to Taras Shevchenko, April 2020
    Memorial to Taras Shevchenko, April 2020

References

  1. ^ a b "Head of the VA Vitalii Barabash: "black" taxi drivers return people to Avdiivka for 18 thousand hryvnias. We take them out again in armoured capsules". Chesno (in Ukrainian). 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Russian, Ukrainian forces fighting inside Avdiivka, Ukrainian military says". Reuters. 8 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2022 [Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2022] (PDF) (in Ukrainian and English). Kyiv: State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2022.
  4. ^ Abdurasulov, A. Ukraine war: Russia attacks Avdiivka stronghold in eastern Ukraine, BBC News, published 12 October 2023, accessed 20 October 2023
  5. ^ a b "Ukraine war: Avdiivka civilians cling on amid Russian assault". BBC News. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Avdiivka: Ukraine troops leave embattled eastern town". BBC news. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Авдіївка, Ясинуватський район, Донецька область". Історія міст і сіл Української РСР (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Стешенко, М. М. (2001). "Авдіївка" (in Ukrainian). Інститут енциклопедичних досліджень НАН України. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Avdiivka". encyclopediaofukraine.com. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  10. ^ Ragozin, Leonid (16 April 2014). "Putin Is Accidentally Helping Unite Eastern and Western Ukraine - The New Republic". The New Republic. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  11. ^ "TASS: World - Donbass defenders put WWII tank back into service". TASS. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  12. ^ "TASS: World - Ukraine's army launches massive offensive operation on Donetsk". TASS. Archived from the original on 21 July 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  13. ^ "BBC: Ukrainian military 'seizes Avdiivka' in rebel Donetsk stronghold". KyivPost. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  14. ^ Bloomberg: Ukraine pushes for UN peacekeepers, Ukraine Today (21 April 2015)
    Ukraine crisis: The factory that has been shelled 165 times, BBC News (17 April 2015)
    Civilians Stuck in the Middle of Donbass Horror, Moscow Times (29 July 2015)
  15. ^ Ukraine conflict: Evacuation planned in frontline town of Avdiivka, BBC News (31 January 2017)
  16. ^ Spike In Fighting In Eastern Ukraine Threatens Fragile Cease-Fire, Radio Free Europe (1 April 2016)
  17. ^ a b c "Замерзнути у вогні. Що відбувається в Авдіївці?". Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 31 January 2017.
  18. ^ Violence flares in war-weary Ukraine as US dithers and Russia pounces, The Guardian (14 February 2017)
  19. ^ a b "Ukraine clashes rage for third day, sparking EU concern". Agence France-Presse. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. An AFP reporter saw the separatists shell the town of about 20,000 people with repeated rounds of Grad multiple rocket systems and artillery fire from the early morning. "Right now, there is no power. We have not resolved problems with heating homes, and the gas pipe has been shattered," local Ukrainian army unit spokeswoman Olena Mokrynchuk told AFP [...] The town's heating is provided by a coke plant that has been heavily damaged by the falling shells. Plant director Musa Magomedov said it would be incredibly difficult to resume gas production were the factory's generators shut down. That would leave Avdiivka without a source of local power and uncertainty about its future.
  20. ^ a b In Avdiivka, the heat supply was switched to a stable mode 02/05/2017 pda.pravda.com.ua accessed 1 November 2023
  21. ^ a b "Growing up between hopes and fears in Avdiivka". UNICEF. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  22. ^ Longman, Jeré (15 June 2018). "Watching the World Cup in a War Zone, Where Every Goal Matters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Russian troops target Avdiivka with rocket launcher Smerch". Ukrinform. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  24. ^ "In Ukraine's Avdiivka, 'hope is all we have'". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Avdiivka is almost completely destroyed, Bakhmut – by 80%". Ukrainska Pravda. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  26. ^ "Ukraine says eastern town of Avdiivka could become 'second Bakhmut'". Reuters. 20 March 2023.
  27. ^ Harding, Luke (15 October 2023). "Russia's Avdiivka offensive is failing, says top Ukrainian officer". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  28. ^ Gozzi, Laura (27 October 2023). "Ukraine war: Russia executing own retreating soldiers, US says". BBC News. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  29. ^ Lukiv, Jaroslav (17 February 2024). "Avdiivka: Ukraine troops leaving embattled eastern town". BBC News. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  30. ^ Walker, Shaun (17 February 2024). "Ukrainian forces withdraw from Avdiivka to avoid encirclement, army chief says". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Fighting Persists in Ukrainian City of Avdiivka For a Fifth Consecutive Day". Time. 14 October 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023.
  32. ^ a b "All-Ukrainian population census". db.ukrcensus.gov.ua. State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  33. ^ a b c (in Ukrainian) Avdeevsky tram. Inexpensive legend of world-class industrial transport, Informator (20 September 2018)
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