Battles for Velyka Novosilka

Battles for Velyka Novosilka
Part of the Eastern Ukraine campaign and 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Date 14 March 2022 – 11 June 2023 (1 year, 2 months and 4 weeks) Location Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine Result Ukrainian victory Russians failed to capture the town Ukrainian military continued advancing as part of the 2023 counteroffensive Territorial changes Ukraine maintains control over Velyka Novosilka, regains control over 6 nearby villages (Blahodatne, Neskuchne, Makarivka, Rivnopil, Staromayorske, and Urozhaine)
Belligerents
Russia	Ukraine

The Battle of Velyka Novosilka (Ukrainian: Бої за Велику Новосілку, romanized: Boi za Velyku Novosilku) was a battle of the Russo-Ukrainian War between the Russian and Ukrainian military from March 2022 to June 2023 in the Ukrainian town of Velyka Novosilka.

Background

See also: War in Donbas, Battle of Donbas (2022), and Russian occupation of Donetsk Oblast

In May 2014, during the early months of the War in Donbas, the Ukrainian Donbas battalion successfully defended the town against the Russian-separatist Donetsk People's Republic. The town remained under Ukrainian control for the next 8 years.

On February 24, 2022, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Russian forces and their separatist allies launched an offensive along the lines of conflict in Donbas.

On March 12, after 15 days of fighting, Russian troops captured the nearby city of Volnovakha, located on a highway between Donetsk and Mariupol. The Ukrainian troops then retreated to the town of Velyka Novosilka. Two days later, fighting began in the settlement.

Battle

Russian advance

On March 14 and 15, Russian troops made a major breakthrough from the direction of Volnovakha along the entire eastern half of the line of Velyka Novosilka, including the villages of Volodymyrivka, Blahodatne, Mykilske, Pavlivka, and Vodiane. On March 16, the Ukrainian General Staff announced that Russian troops began an offensive to capture the town of Velyka Novosilka, and have made some progress.

On March 20, 20 civilians, including 7 children, were evacuated from Velyka Novosilka for safety in anticipation of Russian attacks.

On April 13, Russian troops reportedly shelled and struck residential buildings in Velyka Novosilka Later on the 25th, Russian military again shelled the town.

Stalemate

On May 16, the US Department of Defense gave an overall update about the Russo-Ukrainian War, and suggested that Russian troops south of Velyka Novosilka did not have an immediate intention to attack the village. They are instead focusing on completing the Siege of Mariupol further south.

On August 24, the Russian military has again tried to advance on Velyka Novosilka, but were again repelled. A similar attack was again repulsed a week later on the 31st.

On December 12, there were reports of massing of Russian troops south of Velyka Novosilka, but ended up only conducting reconnaissance missions, signaling a lack of preparation.

See also: Battle of Vuhledar

Beginning in early 2023, the Russian military tried to capture the nearby logistically significant city of Vuhledar. On January 23, there were claims that Russians made successful recon advances in Velyka Novosilka, and are also advancing on Vuhledar.

However, the Russian attempts to capture Vuhledar has been proved to be unsuccessful, and only incurred great losses without much territorial gain. This prevented the Russians from being able to further their advance, and so continued the stalemate around Velyka Novosilka.

Ukrainian victory

By early June, the Ukrainian military has started the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive. During the attack, the Ukrainians successfully pushed the Russians back from the Velyka Novosilka area, and liberated several villages to the south, which are Blahodatne, Neskuchne, Makarivka, Rivnopil, Staromayorske, and Urozhaine. These successes signify that the Russian military has failed to advance on this area of the front, and secured Ukrainian control of the village of Velyka Novosilka.