Semenivka, Donetsk Oblast
Semenivka
Семенівка | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Semenivka .svg) Semenivka | |
| Coordinates: 48°10′57″N 37°37′52″E / 48.18250°N 37.63111°E | |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Oblast |  Donetsk Oblast |
| Raion |  Pokrovsk Raion |
| Government | |
| • Type | Ocheretyne settlement hromada |
| Elevation | 184 m (604 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 182 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 86050 |
| Area code | +380 6236 |
| KOATUU code | 1425584305 |
| KATOTTH code | UA14160190240019927[1] |
 | |
Semenivka (Ukrainian: Семенівка, romanized: Seménivka, Russian: Семёновка, romanized: Semjónovka) is a village in Pokrovsk Raion, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Battle of Avdiivka and subsequent capture of the city by Russian forces led to the village eventually becoming a frontline settlement. While natural defensive lines including hills and a local water reservoir have aided Ukrainian forces in the defense of the village: a lack of proper man-made defenses, alongside shortages in personnel and equipment, have been cited by multiple Ukrainians as making the continued defense of the village particularly difficult in wake of simultaneous Russian attacks from positions in Berdychi in the northeast and Orlivka in the southeast. As of April 2024[update], the village is occupied by Russian forces.[2]
History
[edit]According to the 2001 Ukrainian census, the village had a population of 182 people, of whom 54.95% said that their native language was Russian, and 45.05% Ukrainian.[3]
On 17 June 2020; Decree No. 33, Article 235 of the Verkhovna Rada placed the village in the administration of the Ocheretyne settlement hromada, also incorporating it into the significantly expanded Pokrovsk Raion.[4]
Russian invasion of Ukraine
[edit]During the War in Donbas beginning in April 2014, the village was subject to multiple ground and aerial attacks by Russian forces due to its relative proximity to the frontline city of Avdiivka. One particular battle, which took place in the village sometime in 2016, destroyed multiple houses and pieces of infrastructure in the village.[5] In the Russian invasion of Ukraine beginning in February 2022; after the conclusion of the Battle of Avdiivka on 17 February 2024 and the subsequent capture of the city by Russian forces, the village became a frontline settlement after closer settlements to the city were taken quickly in the days following. The "unusually rapid advance" of Russian forces in the villages leading up to Semenivka was cited by The New York Times as a result of poor local Ukrainian defense lines outside of the city,[6] with natural barriers like hills and a water reservoir beside the village serving as the primary defensive line.[7][8][9] Alongside Semenivka, the villages of Berdychi, Orlivka, and Tonenke were cited by the Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi as objectives in the Russian forces advance from the city.[7][10] In March, the capture of Orlivka by Russian forces to the southeast of the village allowed attacks to take place on Semenivka simultaneously with other recently captured positions in Berdychi to the northeast of the village.[8][9] On 28 March and 1 April, continued concerns about the lack of proper defensive lines, personnel, ammunition, and equipment to continue to defend Semenivka and other nearby villages was brought up by deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade Maksym Zhorin and Ukrainian soldiers reporting to CNN, respectively.[11][12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Очеретинська територіальна громада" [Ocheretyne settlement hromada] (in Ukrainian). Decentralisation in Ukraine. p. 4. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Hodunova, Kateryna (28 April 2024). "Syrskyi: Ukrainian forces retreat from 3 villages in Donetsk Oblast". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Розподіл населення за рідною мовою, Донецька область" [Population distribution by native language, Donetsk region] (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ ПОСТАНОВА Верховної Ради Україниm | Про утворення та ліквідацію районів [RESOLUTION of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine | About the formation and liquidation of districts] (Report) (in Ukrainian). Kyiv: Verkhovna Rada. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ Iovino, Alessandro (19 January 2017). "Eastern Ukraine: The lasting scars of conflict". International Committee of the Red Cross. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Holder, Josh; Méheut, Constant; Schmitt, Eric; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (2 March 2024). "Surprisingly Weak Ukrainian Defenses Help Russian Advance". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Syrsky Admits 'Miscalculations' by Commanders in Avdiivka Sector". Kyiv Post. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b "3rd Assault Brigade Shows Mopping-up Operation in Orlivka". Militarnyi. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ a b Wilk, Andrzej; Żochowski, Piotr (5 March 2024). "Ukrainian troops stabilise the frontline west of Avdiivka. Day 740 of the war". Centre for Eastern Studies. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Novikov, Illia (29 February 2024). "Russian offensive targets more Ukrainian towns and villages as Ukraine says it shot down 3 warplanes". Associated Press. PBS. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Enemy is trying to break through in area of Semenivka in Avdiivka sector: Situation is difficult - Zhorin". Censor.net. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Walsh, Nick Paton (1 April 2024). "Russian assault piles pressure on fragile Ukrainian defensive line in the east". CNN. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
