Jump to content

Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zaporozhye Oblast
Запорожская область
Oblast of Russia
(contested)
Coat of arms of Zaporozhye Oblast
Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

  Russian-occupied territory
  Territory liberated from Russian occupation
  Territory never occupied by Russia

Occupied countryUkraine
Occupying powerRussia
Russian-installed occupation administrationZaporozhye military–civilian administration (2022)
Disputed oblast of RussiaZaporozhye Oblast (2022–present)
Southern Ukraine campaign24 February 2022
Annexation by Russia30 September 2022
Administrative centreMelitopol[1]
Largest settlementMelitopol[1]
Government
 • Head of AdministrationYevgeny Balitsky (United Russia)[2]
 • Deputy Head of AdministrationMikhail Gritsai[3]
 • Head of military–civilian administration governmentAnton Koltsov
Websitezo.gov.ru

The ongoing military occupation of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Russian: Запорожская область, romanizedZaporozhskaya oblast') by Russian forces began on 24 February 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine as part of the southern Ukraine campaign. It was administrated under a Russian-controlled military-civilian administration until 30 September 2022, when it was illegally annexed to become an unrecognized federal subject of Russia.

On 26 February, the city of Berdiansk fell under Russian control, followed by Russian victory at Melitopol on 1 March. Russian forces besieged the city of Enerhodar, home of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, then captured it on 4 March. They have not taken the oblast's capital city of Zaporizhzhia, however, which remains under Ukrainian government control.

In May, the Russian government began offering Russian passports to the region's inhabitants.[4] In July, it issued a decree that extended Russian 2022 war censorship laws to the oblast, and included deportation to Russia as a penalty.[5] In September, occupation forces held largely disputed referendums in the occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Oblast to join the Russian Federation.[6][7] On 27 September, Russian officials claimed that Zaporizhzhia Oblast's referendum passed with 93.11% of voters in favour of joining the Russian Federation.[8][9] Russia signed an accession treaty with the Russian administration of the region on 30 September 2022.[10] Russia annexed Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 30 September 2022, including parts of the oblast that it did not control at the time.[10] The United Nations General Assembly demanded that Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw, and passed a resolution calling on countries not to recognise what it described as an "attempted illegal annexation".[11]

Melitopol serves as the Russian seat of administration as Russia does not control Zaporizhzhia. In March 2023, Melitopol became the official capital of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast after the acting head, Yevgeny Balitsky, signed a decree on moving the de jure capital to Melitopol until Zaporizhzhia is captured.[12]

History

[edit]

Initial military occupation (March 2022)

[edit]

Shortly after Russian forces captured Melitopol on 1 March 2022, residents of the city held a street protest against military occupation. The protestors marched and used their bodies to block a convoy of Russian military vehicles.[13][14]

On 4 March 2022, the former leader of the Anti-Maidan of Zaporizhzhia, Vladimir Rogov, who calls himself "a member of the Main Council of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military-Civilian administration of the Zaporozhye", posted part of the program of "comprehensive financial and economic measures for the economic development of the regions of Ukraine controlled by the Russian Federation" on his Telegram channel. This program was written in its entirety in the newspapers published by the occupying authorities, as well as on March 9 in the public "Military-Civilian Administration of Melitopol". According to the BBC, the program was written in a complex bureaucratic style like that of other similar documents by Russian authorities.[15]

On 10 March, the director of the Melitopol Museum of Local History, Leila Ibragimova, was arrested at her home by Russian forces, and was detained in an unknown location.[16] The next day, Melitopol's mayor, Ivan Fedorov, was abducted by Russian troops for refusing to cooperate with them and continuing to fly a Ukrainian flag in his office.[17] Russian authorities did not comment on Fedorov's disappearance, but the prosecutor's office of the Luhansk People's Republic (a Russian-backed self-proclaimed breakaway state within Ukraine) accused him of "terrorist activities".[18] The mayor of Dniprorudne, Yevhen Matvieyev, was detained by Russian soldiers on 13 March.[19] Matvieyev had participated in a 27 February protest preventing Russian tanks from entering the town.[20]

Military–civilian administration (March–June 2022)

[edit]
Ivan Fedorov, Ukrainian-recognised Mayor of Melitopol
Yevhen Balytskyi, Russian-installed Mayor of Melitopol

The Russians proclaimed Halyna Danylchenko acting mayor of Melitopol on 12 March,[21][22] but Ukrainian sources said that Yevhen Balytskyi had become the unofficial de facto head of the city.[23][24][25] Meanwhile, hundreds of people joined a protest outside Melitopol city hall to demand the release of Fedorov.[18] Olga Gaysumova, head of the non-governmental organization "Conscientious Society of Melitopol" and the organizer of local protests against Russian forces, was arrested.[26] On 13 March, the Melitopol City Council declared that "occupying troops of the Russian Federation are trying to illegally create an occupation administration of the city of Melitopol."[27] It appealed to Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova, to launch an investigation into Danylchenko and her party Opposition Bloc for treason.[27] Ukrayinska Pravda reported that the Russian military abducted Melitopol's District Council Chairman Serhiy Priyma and tried to abduct City Council Secretary Roman Romanov.[28] Russian military vehicles were seen announcing via loudspeakers that rallies and demonstrations had been prohibited and that a curfew imposed from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am.[29] On 14 March Ukrayinska Pravda reported that Russian forces had prevented new protests by blocking off the central square of Melitopol.[30] It also said "Two activists were abducted and taken away in an unknown direction."[30]

On 16 March, Fedorov was freed from captivity. Some Ukrainian officials said he was freed in a "special operation".[31][32][33] Zelenskyy's press aide Daria Zarivna however later said he was exchanged for nine Russian conscripts captured by Ukrainian forces.[34]

On 18 May 2022, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin said during a visit to the region that "the region's prospect is to work in our friendly Russian family," and announced the imminent implementation of plans to launch the maximum turnover of the ruble. According to him, pensions and salaries would be paid to residents of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast in Russian currency within a calendar month.[35] On 23 March 2022, Mayor Fedorov reported that Melitopol was experiencing supply problems with food, medication and fuel, while the Russian military seized businesses, intimidated the local population, and held several journalists.[36]

On 25 May, Vladimir Rogov announced that after the complete capture of the region, it would be annexed by Russia. He also said that a dual-currency zone was introduced in the occupied territory and the coat of arms of Aleksandrovsk from the times of the Russian Empire were installed, with which they began to issue new license plates with the signature "TVR" (a reference to the Taurida Governorate; old numbers are used, but with a "TVR" sticker over the Ukrainian flag).[37][38] Later a report revealed that Balitsky still sometimes used the Ukrainian coat of arms of Zaporizhzhia Oblast on documentation.[39] The same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree to simplify provision of Russian passports to residents of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, under the same procedure as the population of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.[40]

Annexation into Russia (July 2022–present)

[edit]
Russian President Vladimir Putin with pro-Russian leaders of the occupied territories on 30 September 2022

On 28 July, Meduza reported that temporary departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation had been set up in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.[41]

On 8 August, Balitsky announced that a referendum on "reunification" with Russia in the region, and signed the order of the Central Election Commission.[42] The commission, according to the statement, began to form as early as July 23.[43] On 8 September 2022, it was announced that referendums would be held in all the occupied territories of Ukraine from 23 to 27 September, the purpose of which was the annexation of these territories.[44] According to the military–civilian administration, 93.11% of voters in the referendum voted for the region to become part of Russia.[45] Balitsky said that "Zaporizhzhia Oblast de facto separated from Ukraine".[46] On September 28, the Zaporizhzhia military–civilian administration announced the secession of the region from Ukraine.[47] Russia did not control the entire oblast at the time of the referendum, and it was widely dismissed as a sham referendum by international observers. It was also condemned as illegal in international law by the United Nations.[48] On 29 September, Vladimir Putin recognized the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions as independent countries, hours before signing a decree on the annexation of all four regions.[49][50]

At some point, the administration founded the Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion, a Russian volunteer militia fighting in Ukraine.[51]

In spring and summer 2023, Russian forces heavily fortified areas near major cities in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in anticipation of the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.[52] On 8–10 September 2023, the 2023 Russian elections took place in the occupied Ukrainian territories,[53] which Melitopol mayor Ivan Fedorov described as "hellish pseudo-elections". During this period, on 9 September, Fedorov reported that the headquarters of United Russia – the Russian ruling party – in the small city of Polohy was blown up.[54] Fedorov alluded to casualties among the occupation authorities, stating on Telegram that "Some went to the hospital, and some went straight to the morgue".[54]

Occupation head Yevgeny Balitsky spoke about the living conditions in an interview. He stated that Russian occupation authorities “expelled a large number of families...who did not support the ‘special military operation’”. He claimed that the deportation of families was good for them because otherwise "things I'd rather not talk about" would have to happen to them, likely alluding to Russian occupation forces summarily executing Ukrainian civilians.[55]

Government

[edit]

Administrative divisions

[edit]
The administrative divisions of the military administration before the 2023 annexation

In 2023, the occupying Russian Zaporizhzhia Military–Civilian Administration divided the oblast into five districts:[56] But after it was annexed into Russia as the Zaporozhye Oblast it was changed into 16 districts.[57]

Before annexation
Flag Coat of arms Name Control
Berdiansky District Russia
Melitopolsky District Russia
Pologovsky District Contested
Vasilievsky District Contested
Zaporozhsky District Ukraine
After Annexation
No. Urban Districts
Coat of Arms Name
1 TBA Melitopol Urban District
2 TBA Berdyansk Urban District
3 BTA Energodar Urban District
4 TBA Akimovsky Municipal District
5 TBA Berdyansk Municipal District
6 TBA Vasilievsky Municipal District
7 TBA Kamensko-Dneprovsky Municipal District
8 TBA Veselovsky Municipal District
9 TBA Kuibyshevsky Municipal District
10 TBA Melitopol Municipal District
11 TBA Mikhailovsky Municipal District
12 TBA Pologovsky Municipal District
13 TBA Priazovsky Municipal District
14 TBA Primorsky Municipal District
15 TBA Tokmak Municipal District
16 TBA Chernihiv Municipal District

Composition

[edit]

The composition of the administration is published on its website, however, not all members of the administration are listed there, but only the Head, the commandant of Berdiansk, and the deputy for housing and communal services.[58]

The table lists notable members of the administration.

Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party
Head of military–civilian administration (MCA)26 May 2022Incumbent United Russia
Chairman of MCA Government18 July 2022Incumbent Independent
Deputy for housing and communal services18 July 2022Incumbent Socialist Ukraine
Member of the Central Council18 July 2022Incumbent We are Together with Russia
Commandant of Berdyansk18 July 2022Incumbent Independent

After the 30 September 2022 annexation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Balytskyi was made its governor under Russian law, as of October 4.[59]

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant crisis

[edit]
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi and other mission team members at the nuclear power plant on 1 September 2022

On 4 March, the city of Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) came under Russian military occupation.[60] Since then, the ZNPP has been the center of an ongoing nuclear safety crisis.[61] Russia has used the plant as a base to hold military equipment and troops, heightening risk of damage to the plant and a fuel meltdown.[62]

On 6 March, the IAEA released a statement saying that Russian forces were interfering in the operations of the power plant, and "any action of plant management—including measures related to the technical operation of the six reactor units—requires prior approval by the Russian commander," further stating that "Russian forces at the site have switched off some mobile networks and the internet so that reliable information from the site cannot be obtained through the normal channels of communication".[63] On 9 March, Herman Galushchenko, Energy Minister of Ukraine, claimed that Russian forces were holding the workers at the power plant hostage and had forced several to make propaganda videos.[64]

Resistance to occupation

[edit]

On 22 April 2022, Fedorov said that over 100 Russian soldiers were killed by partisans during the occupation of Melitopol.[65]

On 24 August 2022, the Russian-appointed head of Mykhailivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ivan Sushko, was assassinated in a car bombing.[66]

Territorial control

[edit]
Name Pop. Raion Held by As of More information
Berdiansk 107,928 Berdiansk  Russia[67][68] 24 May 2022 See Berdiansk port attack
Captured by  Russia 27 February 2022.[67]
Chernihivka 5,645 Berdiansk  Russia[69] 17 Mar 2022 Captured by  Russia 14 March 2022.
Dniprorudne 18,036 Vasylivka  Russia[70][71] 22 Apr 2022 Captured by  Russia 4 March 2022.[citation needed]
Dorozhnianka 327 Polohy  Russia[72] 28 Dec 2023 Recaptured by  Russia between 31 December 2022 – 2 January 2023.[73][74][75]
Enerhodar 52,887 Vasylivka  Russia[76] 4 Mar 2022 See Battle of Enerhodar
Captured by  Russia 4 March 2022.
Fedorivka 2,214 Polohy  Russia 27 Jul 2023
Huliaipole 13,070 Polohy  Ukraine[77][78] 23 May 2022 See Battle of Huliaipole
Inzhenerne 1,003 Polohy  Russia[79] 21 May 2022
Kamianka 6,507 Polohy  Russia[69][80] 15 Mar 2022 Captured by  Russia 14 March 2022.
Kamianka-Dniprovska 12,332 Vasylivka  Russia 2 Mar 2022 Captured by  Russia 2 March 2022.[citation needed]
Kamianske 2,639 Vasylivka Contested[81] 7 Oct 2024 Shared control between around May 2022 – 5 October 2024.[82]
Contested by  Russia since 6 October 2024.[81]
Kopani 616 Polohy  Russia 11 Oct 2022
Levadne 1 Polohy  Ukraine 24 Sep 2023 Captured by  Russia before the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Recaptured by  Ukraine between 12–14 June 2023.[83]
Lobkove 99 Vasylivka  Ukraine 24 Sep 2023 Loosely controlled by  Russia before the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive?
Recaptured by  Ukraine around 9–11+ June 2023.[84]
Melitopol 150,768 Melitopol  Russia[85] 16 May 2022 See Battle of Melitopol
Captured by  Russia 25 February 2022.[85]
Mykhailivka 11,694 Vasylivka  Russia[86] 13 May 2022
Myrne 872 Polohy  Russia[87][88] 24 Apr 2022
Nesterianka 1,566 Polohy  Russia[89] 3 Sep 2022
Novodarivka 48 Polohy  Ukraine 24 Sep 2023 Captured by  Russia before the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Recaptured by  Ukraine around 11–14+ June 2023.[83]
Novomykolaivka 5,059 Zaporizhzhia  Ukraine 24 Feb 2022
Novoprokopivka 747 Polohy  Russia 24 Aug 2023
Novopokrovka 314 Polohy  Russia 17 Aug 2023
Orikhiv 14,136 Polohy  Ukraine[90] 30 Mar 2022
Piatykhatky 301 Vasylivka  Ukraine[91] 24 Sep 2023 Captured by  Russia before the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Recaptured by  Ukraine around 21–25+ June 2023.[91]
Polohy 18,396 Polohy  Russia[92][90] 30 Mar 2022 Captured by  Russia 7 March 2022.
Plavni 329 Vasylivka Contested[81] 7 Oct 2024 Contested by  Russia since 6 October 2024.[81]
Prymorsk 11,397 Berdiansk  Russia 1 Mar 2022 Captured by  Russia 28 February 2022.[citation needed]
Robotyne 480 Polohy  Russia[93] 23 May 2024 Captured by  Russia in March 2022.
Recaptured by  Ukraine between 28 August – 1 September 2023.[94][95][96]
Contested by  Russia between around 19 February – 20 May 2024.[97]
Recaptured by  Russia around 20 May 2024.[98][93]
Rozivka 3,022 Polohy  Russia[99] 30 Apr 2022
Stepnohirsk 4,294 Vasylivka  Ukraine[100] 15 Oct 2022 Held by  Ukraine on 15 October 2022.[100]
Tokmak 30,132 Polohy  Russia[92][71] 22 Apr 2022 Captured by  Russia 7 March 2022.
Vasylivka 12,771 Vasylivka  Russia[101] 23 May 2022 Captured by  Russia by 7 March 2022.[92]
Verbove 1,246 Polohy  Russia 1 Aug 2023 Captured by  Russia in 2022.
Zahirne 14 Polohy  Russia[102] 16 Jun 2024 Claimed uncontrolled by a  Russian source between around 2023 – 16 June 2024.[102]
Claimed by some  Russian sources around 16 June 2024.[102]
Zaporizhzhia 722,713 Zaporizhzhia  Ukraine 24 Feb 2022 See Civilian convoy attack, Residential building airstrike, October missile strikes

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Russian proxies plan vote in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on joining Russia". Reuters. 8 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Глава Запорожской ВГА Балицкий вступил в "Единую Россию"". RIA Novosti. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  3. ^ "У самопровозглашенного мэра Бердянска появились новые заместители: что про них известно?!". zabor.zp.ua (in Russian). 30 April 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  4. ^ Chernov, Mstyslav (11 July 2022). "Putin expands fast-track Russian citizenship to all Ukraine". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  5. ^ Psaropoulos, John (21 June 2022). "Russia resumes eastern Ukraine offensive and expands war aims". Al Jazeera Media Network.
  6. ^ Karlovskyi, Denys (16 July 2022). "Russia plans to hold referendums in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts on 11 September Ukrainian intelligence". Yahoo News. Ukrayinska Pravda. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Ukraine's occupied Zaporizhzhia eyes Russia 'referendum' in autumn". Firstpost. Agence France-Presse. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Pro-Moscow officials say 1 occupied area of Ukraine has voted to join Russia". PBS NewsHour. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Жители Запорожской области голосовали за воссоединение с Россией - Администрация Запорожской области". zapgov.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Ukraine war latest: Putin declares four areas of Ukraine as Russian". BBC. 30 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Ukraine: UN General Assembly demands Russia reverse course on 'attempted illegal annexation'". UN News. 12 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Мелитополь стал столицей Запорожской области". RIA Novosti. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Russia-Ukraine conflict: Singing protesters throw themselves in front of Russian armored convoy in Melitopol". Global News. 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Shots Fired In Ukrainian City As Locals Protest Against Russian Occupation". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  15. ^ ""Скоро перестроитесь". Как Россия закрепляется на оккупированных украинских территориях". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). 29 April 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  16. ^ "In occupied Melitopol, invaders kidnapped a deputy of regional council". Rubryka. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  17. ^ Alan Cullison; Alexander Osipovich (11 March 2022). "Russian General Is Killed in Ukraine as Airstrikes Intensify". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  18. ^ a b War in Ukraine: Russian forces accused of abducting second mayor Archived 13 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News (13 March 2022)
  19. ^ War in Ukraine: Russian forces accused of abducting second mayor, BBC News (13 March 2022)
  20. ^ Olga Okhrimenko (13 March 2022). "Окупанти викрали мера міста Дніпрорудного". Fakty i Kommentarii (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  21. ^ Santora, Marc; MacFarquhar, Neil (12 March 2022). "The Russians Might Have Expected a Warm Welcome. Instead the Mayor Labeled Them 'Occupiers.'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  22. ^ Helen Regan, Steve George, Maureen Chowdhury, Mike Hayes and Amir Vera (13 March 2022). "New mayor installed in Russia-controlled Melitopol after kidnapping. Here's what we know". CNN. Retrieved 28 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ "Экс-"регионал", бухгалтерша и горный инженер: кто стал новой властью на оккупированных украинских территориях". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). 1 April 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Що відомо про депутата Євгена Балицького, який співпрацює з окупантами" [What is known about the deputy Yevhen Balytskyi, who cooperates with the occupiers]. Zaporizhzhian Investigation Centre (in Ukrainian). 25 March 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  25. ^ Lotareva, Anastasiya; Zakharov, Andrei (1 April 2022). "Экс-"регионал", бухгалтерша и горный инженер: кто стал новой властью на оккупированных украинских территориях" [Ex-regional, accountant and mining engineer: who became the new government in the occupied Ukrainian territories?]. BBC (in Russian).
  26. ^ Irina Znas (13 March 2022). "Российские оккупанты похитили организаторку протестов в Мелитополе". Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (in Russian). Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Міськрада Мелітополя називає в.о мера від окупантів державною зрадницею". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  28. ^ "У Мелітополі триває терор: окупанти викрали голову райради". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Окупанти заборонили мелітопольцям мітинги, ті відповіли традиційно: агресор - нах#й". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Russian occupying forces block people's protests in Melitopol – Media". Українська правда. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  31. ^ "Melitopol mayor freed after kidnapping by Russian forces". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  32. ^ "Captured Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov rescued by Ukrainian forces: Report". Washington Examiner. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  33. ^ Карловский, Денис. "Мэра Мелитополя освободили из плена русских". Украинская правда (in Russian). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Ukraine swapped nine Russian soldiers to free detained mayor". Reuters. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  35. ^ "Вице-премьер РФ Хуснуллин: Запорожская АЭС будет работать на Россию и поставлять электричество в Украину за деньги". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  36. ^ "Melitopol mayor accuses Russians of seizing businesses in the city". CNN. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  37. ^ ""Новые власти" Запорожской области заявили о введении рубля и стремлении войти в состав РФ. Об этом же говорили в Херсонской области". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  38. ^ Новости, Р. И. А. (25 May 2022). "Запорожская область вернула герб времен Российской империи". РИА Новости (in Russian). Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  39. ^ "Occupiers in Zaporizhzhia oblast steal the ZRMA's symbols and ID number to make a fake seal". imi.org.ua. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Путин упростил выдачу гражданства РФ для жителей Запорожской и Херсонской областей Украины". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  41. ^ "МВД РФ отчиталось о создании временных управлений в оккупированных Херсонской и Запорожской областях". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  42. ^ "Западные микросхемы в российских ракетах, новый удар по Антоновскому мосту, заключенные на фронте. 166‑й день войны". Медиазона (in Russian). Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  43. ^ "На оккупированном юге Запорожья запланировали референдум о "воссоединении" с Россией. Будет, как в Крыму?". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  44. ^ "Емоції Путіна і слабка позиція. Чому Росія поспішно проводить "референдуми"". BBC News Україна (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  45. ^ "В Запорожье объявили результаты референдума о вхождении в состав РФ". ura.news. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  46. ^ "Запорожская область де-факто отделилась от Украины — глава ВГА". www.ng.ru. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  47. ^ "Запорожская ВГА заявила о выходе региона из состава Украины" [Zaporozhye MCA announced the region's secession from Ukraine]. РБК (in Russian). 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  48. ^ "So-called referenda in Russian-controlled Ukraine 'cannot be regarded as legal': UN political affairs chief". UN News. 27 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  49. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche, Russia-Ukraine updates: Kremlin says recognizes Kherson, Zaporizhzhia | DW | 29.09.2022, archived from the original on 1 October 2022, retrieved 30 September 2022
  50. ^ "Putin Signs Independence Decrees In Precursor To Seizing Ukrainian Regions". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  51. ^ "Балицкий: добровольцы из Сербии поступили в батальон имени Судоплатова в Запорожской области". Газета.Ru (in Russian). 13 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  52. ^ Balmforth, Tom (27 April 2023). "Insight: Russia digs in as Ukraine prepares to attack". Reuters. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  53. ^ "United Russia's headquarters smashed in temporarily occupied Polohy". 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  54. ^ a b "Official: 'United Russia' HQ destroyed in Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid sham elections". 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  55. ^ "Russian offensive campaign assessment February 21, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  56. ^ "Информация о Запорожской области". Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  57. ^ "Муниципальные образования". Официальный сайт правительства Запорожской области (in Russian). Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  58. ^ "Структура администрации Запорожской области" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  59. ^ "Федеральный конституционный закон от 04.10.2022 № 8-ФКЗ "О принятии в Российскую Федерацию Херсонской области и образовании в составе Российской Федерации нового субъекта - Херсонской области"" (in Russian). Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  60. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 4". Institude for the Study of War. 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  61. ^ "'Russian nuclear terror': Ukraine atomic plant attacked again". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  62. ^ Nelson, Amy J.; Norteman, Chinon (23 March 2023). "What to do about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant". Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  63. ^ "Russian forces interfering at Ukraine nuclear plant: IAEA". Al-Jazeera. 6 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  64. ^ "Russian soldiers 'torturing staff' inside Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant". news.yahoo.com. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  65. ^ "Mayor claims partisans killed more than 100 Russian soldiers in occupied Melitopol - KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice". KyivPost. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  66. ^ "Russian-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia Ivan Sushko killed in car bomb explosion". Euro Weekly News. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  67. ^ a b "Mayor of southern Ukrainian town says Russians have taken control". CNN. 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  68. ^ Stepanenko, Kateryna; Hird, Karolina; Clark, Mason (24 May 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 24". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  69. ^ a b "An ex-Wagner man was taken prisoner near Zaporizhia". zp.ua. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  70. ^ "War in Ukraine: Russian forces accused of abducting second mayor". BBC News. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  71. ^ a b Hilsum, Lindsey (22 April 2022). "Ukraine: What life is like under Russian occupation". Channel 4 News. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  72. ^ Harward, Christina; Hird, Karolina; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Wolkov, Nicole (28 December 2023). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 28, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  73. ^ Bailey, Riley; Howard, Angela; Williams, Madison; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (31 December 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 31". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  74. ^ Barros, George; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Howard, Angela; Mappes, Grace; Philipson, Layne; Kagan, Frederick W. (2 January 2023). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 2, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 29 February 2024. A Russian milblogger claimed on January 2 that Russian forces conducted a raid on Ukrainian positions in Novopokrovka, Zaporizhia Oblast and that Russian forces entrenched themselves in captured Dorozhnyanka
  75. ^ Hird, Karolina; Mappes, Grace; Bailey, Riley; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Kagan, Frederick W. (19 March 2023). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 19, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 4 March 2024. Geolocated footage published on March 19 showed Russian forces operating in southern Dorozhnyanka.
  76. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 4". Institute for the Study of War. 4 March 2022.
  77. ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas; Yermak, Natalia (30 March 2022). "'Like Living in a Horror Movie': A Ukraine Town Dying a Slow Death". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  78. ^ Ray, John (23 May 2022). "The Ukrainians sheltering for months in hospital with no power to escape Russian shelling". ITV News. Huliaipole. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  79. ^ Hird, Karolina; Barros, George; Clark, Mason (21 May 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 21". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  80. ^ "Дніпропетровська область готова до опору - Корбан" [Dnipropetrovsk region is ready for resistance - Korban]. Korrespondent.net. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  81. ^ a b c d Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Barros, George; Evans, Angelica; Kagan, Frederick W. (7 October 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 7, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 7 October 2024. A Ukrainian military observer stated that Russian forces seized Myasozharivka (west of Svatove) [...] Ukrainian military observers stated on October 6 that Russian forces pushed Ukrainian forces from the poultry farm in eastern Tsukuryne and seized the remainder of the settlement [...] The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces seized Hrodivka [...] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces seized Zhelanne Druhe [...] Russian sources reported that the operational tempo in the southern frontline near Kamyanske, Zaporizhia Oblast, is increasing [...] Geolocated footage published on October 6 indicates that Russian forces marginally advanced near Kamyanske and Plavni on the eastern shore of the Kakhovka Reservoir
  82. ^ Sahuquillo, María R. (19 May 2022). "En las trincheras de Zaporiyia: "Esta es tierra de cosacos y ellos nunca se arrodillaron ante nadie"" [In the trenches of Zaporizhzhia: "This is Cossack land and they never knelt before anyone"]. El País (in Spanish). Orikhiv. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  83. ^ a b Stepanenko, Kateryna; Hird, Karolina; Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Barros, George; Clark, Mason. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 12, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  84. ^ Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Barros, George; Clark, Mason. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 11, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  85. ^ a b Yaffa, Joshua (16 May 2022). "A Ukrainian City Under a Violent New Regime". The New Yorker. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  86. ^ Stepanenko, Kateryna; Kagan, Frederick W. (13 May 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 13". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  87. ^ ""Ворота до Запоріжжя". Репортаж із Оріхова, який стримує наступ Росії з півдня". Radio Svovoda (in Ukrainian). 8 April 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  88. ^ "Gallery: Ukraine-Russia crisis, April 24, 2022". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  89. ^ Stepanenko, Kateryna; Hird, Karolina; Kagan, Frederick W. (3 September 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 3". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  90. ^ a b "The Ukrainian woman shot by Russian soldiers on the front line". BBC News. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  91. ^ a b "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 21, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023. Geolocated combat footage posted on June 20 shows Ukrainian forces repelling a Russian armored assault east of Spirne [...] ISW geolocated footage published on June 21 that shows continued Ukrainian control of Pyatykhatky.
  92. ^ a b c "Ukraine after 11th night of war: Mayor killed, towns taken, Moscow promises civilian corridors to Russia". Baltic News Network. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  93. ^ a b Méheut, Constant (23 May 2024). "Advancing Russian Troops Threaten to Reverse Some of Ukraine's Hard-Won Gains". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  94. ^ "Ukraine says it liberates strategic southeastern settlement". Reuters. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  95. ^ Marson, James (31 August 2023). "Ukrainian Counteroffensive Pierces Main Russian Defensive Line in Southeast". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  96. ^ Bailey, Riley; Harward, Christina; Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Kagan, Frederick W. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 2, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  97. ^ Evans, Angelica; Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Bailey, Riley; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (19 February 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 19, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  98. ^ Harward, Christina; Wolkov, Nicole; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Mappes, Grace; Kagan, Frederick W. (20 May 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 20, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  99. ^ "Zaporizhzhia fights as Russians intensify offensive in region". The Kyiv Independent. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  100. ^ a b O'Reilly, Finbarr (15 October 2022). "Stuck between the Russian and Ukrainian lines in the south, a family hangs on". New York Times. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  101. ^ Stepanenko, Kateryna; Hird, Karolina; Clark, Mason; Barros, George (23 May 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 23". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  102. ^ a b c Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Hird, Karolina; Barros, George (16 June 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 16, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 17 June 2024. A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced about two kilometers deep to the eastern outskirts of Pishchane [...] The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed on June 16 that Russian forces seized Zahirne [...], sparking debate and some criticism from Russian milbloggers who noted that Russian forces have controlled Zahirne for some time. One milblogger claimed [...] that Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from Zahirne in 2023. However, the terrain features in the area prevented Russian forces from establishing a reliable foothold in the settlement until more recently.