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Offensive on Mariupol (January 2015)
Part of War in Donbass
Date 24 January 2015 – present Location Ordzhonikidze city district of Mariupol Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Ukraine	Donetsk People's Republic Russia
Commanders and leaders
Pres. Petro Poroshenko Stepan Poltorak Andriy Biletsky	Aleksandr Zakharchenko Vladimir Kononov Aleksandr Pepel
Units involved
Armed Forces of Ukraine: Ground Forces Ukrainian Sea Guard Internal Affairs Ministry: Azov Battalion Donbas Battalion Dnipro Battalion Police Security Service of Ukraine	Novorossiya Armed Forces Russian Armed Forces
Casualties and losses
1 killed	Uncertain
31 civilians killed and 117 wounded

The offensive on Mariupol was launched on 24 January 2015 by Russian-backed forces associated with the Donetsk People's Republic against the strategic maritime city of Mariupol, defended by the Ukrainian government forces. Mariupol had come under attack multiple times in the past year in the course of the War in Donbass, including in May–June 2014, when the city was under the control of pro-Russian forces; and the September 2014 offensive.

On 24 January 2015, the Mariupol city council and regional police said the city was subjected to indiscriminate rocket fire from the long-range Grad systems, killing at least 29 and injuring 97. The Ukrainian officials blamed the barrage on the rebels and the Russian military. The attack was ordered by full-time Russian military commanders, according to Ukrainian intelligence. The rebels denied the attack, but their leader, Alexander Zakharchenko, announced an offensive against Mariupol later that day.

According to a spot report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, the Grad and Uragan rockets originated from the areas controlled by the pro-Russian forces. United Nations political chief Jeffrey D. Feltman said the attacks "knowingly targeted civilians," violated international humanitarian law, and could amount to war crimes.

Events

On January 22 pro-Russian rebels tried to attack Ukrainian positions on North-East of the city but failed.The next day, Alexander Zaharchenko vowed to fight until he reached the border of the Donetsk Oblast. Separatists reportedly began a tank offensive, and also conducted attacks near the west of the city. The village of Talakovka was reportedly shelled hard by separatists, but Ukrainian forces were "holding on". The shelling was confirmed by Andriy Lysenko, but said the separatists were still incapable of shelling the city itself because Ukrainian forces had not led them get close enough. Dmitry Tymchuk, a military blogger, reported on Facebook that a convoy of DPR tanks and APC's were advancing towards the city.

On January 24, a major escalation took place after a rocket attack killed many people. Mariupol city authorities said that a Grad rocket hit a residential area in the city, and killed 20 people. Video footage showed that cars, buildings, and apartment flats were in flames as a result of the attack. The attack appeared to come from a multiple rocket launcher. One resident told Agence France-Presse on the telephone that the rebels had managed to seize Mariupol Airport, although rebels made no comment about that alleged airport seizure. The airport is located some 20 kilometers behind the front line. The rebels denied any involvement in the attack.

The rocket attacks came a day after the rebels rejected a peace deal and announced they were going on a multi-prong offensive against the government in Kiev to vastly increase their territory. Despite rebel denials, Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko said that his forces had started an offensive on Mariupol, and rejected further talks with Kiev; Zakharchenko said that "Today an offensive was launched on Mariupol. This will be the best possible monument to all our dead." Zakharchenko also stated that it is a provocation as DPR militants do not have mentioned artillery systems and according to his sourced the shelling was conducted from Staryi Krym. The death also rose to 27 people, and several more were injured. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk called for an urgent meeting at the UN Security Council.

A Ukrainian military checkpoint was also hit in the attack, killing 1 soldier. The city council urged citizens of Mariupol not to panic and said that “all units are on fully battle-ready. Security measures in the city have been strengthened.” The General Secretary of NATO Jens Stoltenberg condemned the attack, urging Russia to stop supporting the rebels. President Petro Poroshenko considered the attack a "crime against humanity", and cancelled his trip to Saudi Arabia. He also vowed to deliver a "full victory" over the rebels.

According to OSCE observers "Grad" and "Uragan" rockets were used in this attack, originating from villages Oktyabr (19 km NE) and Zaichenko (15 km NE), both controlled by separatist forces. Later, pro-Russian rebels said they were not going to storm Mariupol and the offensive was only to strengthen positions around the city.

The next day, President Poroshenko vowed to calm the recent fighting in the strategic port city. Speaking at an emergency meeting at the Ukrainian Security council, he said that the Minsk Protocol signed on September 5th was the only solution to end the conflict. He said intercepted radio conservations prove that pro-Russian rebels were behind the attacks, but the conservation hadn't been confirmed independently yet. Russia denied involvement in the attack, saying it was a result of Ukrainian forces shelling residential areas indiscriminately.Petro Poroshenko said Ukrainian forces killed most of rebels involved in the shelling, and put the rebel casualties at 110. Six Grad missile launchers were also destroyed according to him, and that the SBU captured the artillery gun spotter back to Kiev for questioning.

Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) published a detailed timeline of the rocket attack.

International reactions

The attack was condemned in a public statement by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Condemnation by United Nations Security Council was vetoed by Russia on the ground that it blamed "self-defense forces" and Alexander Zakharchenko's announcement of beginning of the attack on Mariupol. The attack and "provocative statements by self-defense leaders" were eventually condemned by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The attack was also condemned by NATO.

External Links

Spot report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), 24 January 2015: Shelling Incident on Olimpiiska Street in Mariupol

References

1. "SBU says it has proof Russian military were behind Mariupol shelling that killed 30 people (VIDEO)". KyivPost. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
2. "Shelling in Mariupol: 29 people killed, 102 wounded (UPDATE, VIDEO)". KyivPost. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
3. "At Least 30 Dead As Rebels Hit Ukraine Homes". Sky News. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
4. "TASS: World - Donetsk region state administration says 30 people killed in Mariupol shelling". TASS. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
5. "Количество погибших в Мариуполе увеличилось до 31 человека - МВД". Ukrayinska Pravda. 28 Ja<nuary 2015. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. ^ Leonard, Peter (Jan 24, 2015). "Rockets Kill 29 in Ukrainian City as Rebels Launch Offensive". ABCNews.
7. "Missile attack kills at least 15 in Mariupol, east Ukraine". The Guardian. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
8. "Nato accuses Russia over worsening Ukrainian crisis". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
9. "Rebels say launched attack on Mariupol as 20 killed in east Ukraine city". Reuters. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
10. OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. "Spot report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), 24 January 2015: Shelling Incident on Olimpiiska Street in Mariupol". OSCE. Mariupol. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
11. telegraph.co.uk 25 January 2015
12. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/01/26/world/europe/ap-un-united-nations-ukraine.html?smid=tw-share
13. "Ukrainian military repel militants' attack near Mariupol". NRCU. January 22, 2014.
14. "Civilians Caught in Crossfire as Ukraine Separatists Make Gains". Newsweek. January 23, 2014.
15. "Rockets kill 30 in Mariupol as rebels launch offensive". BBC News Online. 24 January 2015.
16. "Rockets rain on eastern Ukrainian port city, killing at least 27". Mashable.com. 2015-01-24. Retrieved 2015-01-24.
17. Kramer, Andrew E. (24 January 2015). "At Least 10 Killed in Rocket Attack in Eastern Ukraine Port City". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
18. "Ukraine crisis: Rockets 'kill 10' in Mariupol". BBC News Online. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
19. "Rebel shelling kills up to 10 people in east Ukrainian city of Mariupol: officials". Reuters. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
20. "Ukraine crisis: Rockets 'kill 20' in Mariupol". BBC. January 24, 2014.
21. DPR: the militia does not have an artillery capable to hit Mariupol. RIA News. 24 January 2015
22. "Ukraine crisis: Rebels 'begin offensive' on Mariupol". BBC. January 24, 2014.
23. "Rebel launch major offensive on key Ukrainian port of Mariupol". Globe and Mail. January 24, 2015.
24. "NATO Secretary General statement on the attack on Mariupol".
25. "Spot report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), 24 January 2015: Shelling Incident on Olimpiiska Street in Mariupol". OSCE. 2015-01-24. Retrieved 2015-01-24.
26. "Donetsk militia 'not going to storm Mariupol', trades accusations with Kiev". RT. January 24, 2015.
27. "Ukraine conflict: Poroshenko vows to 'calm' Mariupol fighting". BBC. January 25, 2015.
28. "Most terrorists that shelled Mariupol destroyed, Poroshenko". January 25, 2015.
29. "Обстрел террористами Мариуполя". Security Service of Ukraine. 2015-01-26. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
30. Federica Mogherini (2015-01-24). "Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on the attack on Mariupol". European Commission. Retrieved 2015-01-24.
31. Edith M. Lederer (2015-01-25). "Russia blocks UN condemnation of shelling of Ukraine city". Salon. Retrieved 2015-01-25.
32. "UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemns Ukraine rebel offensive". Economic Times. 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2015-01-25.
33. "NATO Secretary General statement on the attack on Mariupol". NATO. 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2015-01-25.

Template:2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

• Conflicts in 2015
• Battles of the war in Donbass
• Mariupol
• 2015 in Ukraine
• Attacks in 2015
• Mass murder in 2015