Krasnohorivka Explained

Krasnohorivka (pronounced as /uk/;) is a city in Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. It is situated west of Donetsk. As of the 2001 census, it has a population of 16,714. In June 2024, as a result of fighting over the city, the population had reportedly decreased to 346.^[1] The city has been under Russian occupation since September 2024.

History

The city was founded in the first half of the 19th century by migrants from the Ukrainian villages of Poltava Governorate and Kharkov Governorate.

Starting mid-April 2014 pro-Russian separatists captured several towns in Donetsk Oblast;^{[2] [3]} including Krasnohorivka.^[4] On 1 August 2014, Ukrainian forces had captured the city from pro-Russian separatists.^[5] The city then became situated close to the frontline with the separatist-controlled Donetsk. It continued to come under separatist attack by shelling.^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]}

June 2015 offensive

See main article: Battle of Marinka (2015). On 3 June 2015, fresh violence returned to the city as pro-Russian rebels launched an offensive there, involving 1,000 troops, tanks and heavy artillery.^[11] The rebels stated they only engaged in defence measures after an assault by the Ukrainian army. Video footage reportedly showed outgoing artillery fire originating in residential areas in Donetsk held by the rebels, directed at Ukrainian government positions, a claimed violation of both the Minsk II agreement and Geneva Conventions. The attacking rebel forces allegedly included a number of Russian regular soldiers.^[12] The Ukrainian government accused Russia of inciting the conflict.^[13] Western diplomats stated that the assault was carried out by combined Russian-separatist forces.^[12]

Russian invasion of Ukraine

See main article: Battle of Krasnohorivka. On 30 March 2024, two people were killed by Russian shelling.^[14] By 8 April 2024, Russian forces had entered the southeastern part of the city and fighting began over control over Krasnohorivka.^[15] By the end of July, Russian forces had captured the core part of the city, but fighting remained ongoing in the city's northern outskirts.^{[16] [17]} On 9 September, the city was fully captured.^[18] The Russian military formally claimed the city's seizure the following day.^{[19] [18]}

Demographics

According to the 2001 Ukrainian census, the settlement had a population of 16,398. Ukrainians constitute the majority of the city's population, followed by ethnic Russians and Greeks.^{[20] [21]}

Notable people

• Mykola Shmatko (1943–2020), a Ukrainian sculptor, professor and painter.

References

1. Web site: Філашкін повідомив, скільки людей продовжує жити у Часовому Яру та Красногорівці .
2. Vladimir Putin is Accidentally Bringing Eastern and Western Ukraine Together. The New Republic. 16 April 2014. Ragozin. Leonid.
3. Web site: Donbass defenders put WWII tank back into service.
4. News: Airstrike kills nine as apartment block demolished in Ukraine. .
5. Web site: Война России против Украины: террористы из "Градов" обстреливают донецкий аэропорт и силы АТО возле Авдеевки.
6. Web site: Number of militant attacks reaches nearly 70 times in 24 HRS – ATO HQ.
7. Web site: Новини | Українська правда.
8. Web site: Новини | Українська правда.
9. The occupiers fired on a COVID hospital in the Donetsk region, Ukrayinska Pravda (5 May 2021)
10. The occupiers fired at Krasnohorivka: the shell blew up the apartment, the man had multiple wounds, Ukrayinska Pravda (5 August 2021)
11. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32988499 Ukraine crisis: Violence flares up near Donetsk
12. News: Can Anyone Stop Putin's New Blitz?. The Daily Beast. 3 June 2015. Weiss. Michael.
13. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/03/fears-for-ukraine-ceasefire-after-fresh-reports-of-civilian-deaths Ukraine at risk of return to full war after major battle in Donetsk
14. Web site: 2024-03-30 . Prosecutor's Office: Russian attack on Krasnohorivka kills elderly man, woman . 2024-04-29 . The Kyiv Independent . en.
15. Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 9, 2024 . Wolkov . Nicole . Hird . Karolina . Harward . Christina . Mappes . Grace . Barros . George . Institute for the Study of War . 9 April 2024 . 9 April 2024 . Geolocated footage published on April 8 shows that Russian forces made gains along Vatutin Street in southeastern Krasnohorivka.
16. Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 27, 2024 . Bailey . Riley . Wolkov . Nicole . Evans . Angelica . Harward . Christina . Kagan . Frederick W. . Institute for the Study of War . 27 July 2024 . 27 July 2024 . Geolocated footage published on July 26 showing Russian forces raising a Russian flag in northern Krasnohorivka (west of Donetsk City) indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in the settlement, and Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces also advanced in western Krasnohorivka..
17. Web site: DeepStateMap.Live. 30 July 2024. The enemy advanced in Krasnohorivka and near Urozhayne. The enemy's advance near Robotyne has been clarified..
18. Web site: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 10, 2024 . Hird . Karolina . Evans . Angelica . Wolkov . Nicole . Mappes . Grace . Zehrung. Haley. Institute for the Study of War . 10 September 2024 . 10 September 2024 . Geolocated footage posted on September 9 indicates that Russian forces seized Krasnohorivka [...] The Russian MoD also claimed that Russian forces seized Krasnohorivka, consistent with the available geolocated evidence..
19. Web site: Russia Says Captured Town, 3 Villages in Eastern Ukraine . 10 September 2024 . The Moscow Times . en.
20. Web site: Рідні мови в об'єднаних територіальних громадах України .
21. Web site: Національний склад міст .