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Battle of Enerhodar

Coordinates: 47°29′56″N 34°39′21″E / 47.49889°N 34.65583°E / 47.49889; 34.65583
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47°29′56″N 34°39′21″E / 47.49889°N 34.65583°E / 47.49889; 34.65583

Battle of Enerhodar
Part of the southern Ukraine offensive in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russian shelling of Enerhodar
Date4 March 2022
Location
Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russia Ukraine
The state of the battle of Enerhodar on 1 March 2022

On 4 March 2022, a military engagement took place between the Russian Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the city of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on the southern front of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Enerhodar is the location of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which generates nearly half of the country's electricity derived from nuclear power and more than a fifth of total electricity generated in Ukraine,[1] as well as a nearby thermal power station.

After attacking protesting civilians on March 3, Russian forces engaged Ukrainian forces at the nuclear power plant and took control of it, seizing Enerhodar the same day.

Background

On 28 February, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its forces had captured the city of Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,[2][3] though this was denied by the city's mayor, Dmytro Orlov and Energoatom, the Ukrainian state enterprise which operates the plant.[4][5] Local citizens later barricaded the road to the plant and the entrance to the city, forcing the Russian forces to turn back.[6][7]

On 1 March, Ukrainian officials stated that Russian forces had surrounded the city, with a Russian convoy heading into Enerhodar around 2:00 pm.[8][9] According to Orlov, the city had difficulties obtaining food.[8] In the evening, a protest by local residents blocked Russian forces from entering the city.[9]

In the morning of 2 March, Orlov stated that Russian troops were again approaching the city.[10] Protestors again blocked the roads; protestors carried Ukrainian flags and used garbage trucks as part of the blockade.[11] Orlov told Ukrinform that two people were wounded when Russian soldiers allegedly threw grenades at a crowd of civilians.[12][13][14][dubious – discuss] By 6:00 pm, the protest included two hundred residents, as well as power plant workers. Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated that the IAEA had been informed by Russian authorities that Russian forces were in control of territory around the nuclear power plant.[11]

Battle

At 11:28 pm local time on the 3 March 2022, a column of 10 Russian armored vehicles and two tanks cautiously approached the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.[15][16][17] The action commenced at 12:48 am on the 4 March when Ukrainian forces fired anti tank missiles at the tanks leading the column, and Russian forces responded with a variety of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades.[16] Russian forces then entered the parking area near the front gate. Most of the Russian fire was directed towards the training center and main administrative building, but Russian forces also fired heavy weapons in the direction of the reactor buildings multiple times.[16] During approximately two hours of heavy fighting a fire broke out in a training facility outside of the main complex, which was extinguished by 6:20 am,[18][19] though other sections surrounding the plant sustained damage.[16] Later that day, IAEA confirmed that the safety systems of the plant had not been affected and there was no release of radioactive material.[20]

Russian forces also entered Enerhodar and took control of it.[21][22] Orlov stated that the city lost its heating supply as a result of the battle.[23]

Aftermath

Main articles: Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast § Enerhodar, and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant crisis

Oleksandr Starukh, the governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, stated on 5 March that Russian forces had left Enerhodar after looting it and the situation in the city was completely under control of local authorities. However, Orlov denied the report and stated that Russian forces still occupied the perimeter of the city and the power plant, with local authorities still managing the city.[24] The Ukrainian military administration for the southeast confirmed on 7 March that Enerhodar was under control of Russian forces.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "SS "Zaporizhzhia NPP"". www.energoatom.com.ua. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Russian forces take control of Ukraine's Berdyansk, Enerhodar – Russian Defense Ministry". interfax.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Russia's war in Ukraine: complete guide in maps, video and pictures". The Guardian. 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  4. ^ Letyak, Valentina (28 February 2022). "Енергодар і Запорізька АЕС під контролем ЗСУ: мер міста просить не вірити фейкам" [Energodar and Zaporizhzhya NPP under the control of the Armed Forces: the mayor asks not to believe the fakes]. Fakty i Kommentarii (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Russia captures Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, gains air supremacy". Daily Sabah. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Enerhodar, i cittadini davanti all'ingresso città: barricate per proteggere la centrale nucleare" [Enerhodar, citizens in front of the city entrance: barricades to protect the nuclear power plant]. Repubblica TV – Repubblica (in Italian). 28 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  7. ^ Julia (28 February 2022). "Жители Энергодара без оружия остановили колонну российских оккупантов, – ВИДЕО" [Residents of Energodar without weapons stopped the column of Russian invaders, – VIDEO]. First Zaprohziya (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Рада оборони Енергодара перейшла на цілодобовий режим роботи, місто в оточенні" [The Energodar Defense Council has switched to round-the-clock operation, the city is surrounded]. 061.ua (in Ukrainian). 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Mieszkańcy Enerhodaru wyszli na ulicę, żeby zatrzymać Rosjan. Bronią elektrowni jądrowej" [Enerhodar residents went into the streets to stop the Russians. They're protecting the nuclear power station]. Onet.pl (in Polish). 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  10. ^ "The mayor of Energodar says Russian troops approaching the city. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe (according to Wikipedia) is placed in this city". liveuamap.com. 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  11. ^ a b Sangal, Aditi; Vogt, Adrienne; Wagner, Meg; Yeung, Jessie; Renton, Adam; Berlinger, Josh; Noor Haq, Sana; Upright, Ed (2 March 2022). "Live Updates – Russia invades Ukraine". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Russian military threw grenades at civilians who came out to defend own village". Ukrinform. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  13. ^ Orlov's Telegram Archived 3 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, 09:59, 3 March 2022
  14. ^ "Russia Ukraine conflict: More than 2,000 civilians dead in first week of invasion, says Ukraine". Youtube. Channel 4 News. 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Прямая трансляция пользователя Запорізька АЕС". youtube. Запорізька АЕС. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d "Video analysis reveals Russian attack on Ukrainian nuclear plant veered near disaster". NPR. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  17. ^ "Security Council debates Russian strike on Ukraine nuclear power plant". UN News. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Ukraine nuclear power plant attack: All you need to know". Al Jazeera. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  19. ^ Update on the human rights situation in Ukraine (Reporting period: 24 February – 26 March) United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine
  20. ^ "Update 11 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine". International Atomic Energy Agency. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ Vira Kasiyan (4 March 2022). "Енергодар: окупанти знову зайшли в місто". Lb.ua (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  23. ^ Mazurenko Alyona (4 March 2022). "Енергодар залишився без тепла". Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Российские войска покинули Энергодар: последствия обстрелов (уточнено)". Gazeta.ua (in Russian). 5 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  25. ^ "Ukraine after 11th night of war: Mayor killed, towns taken, Moscow promises civilian corridors to Russia". Baltic News Network. 7 March 2022. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
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