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Second Battle of Mariupol
Part of the War in Donbass
Date 4 September 2014 – present Location Mariupol Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Ukraine	Donetsk People's Republic  Russia (presumed)
Commanders and leaders
Andrey Biletskii (commander of Azov Battalion)
Units involved
Armed Forces of Ukraine Internal Affairs Ministry Donbas Battalion Azov Battalion	Donbass People's Militia Russian Armed Forces (presumed)
Strength
4 tanks, 12+ APCs,10+ trucks	30+ tanks
Casualties and losses
3 tanks and 1 truck destroyed and 1 tank abandoned	1 tank and 1 truck destroyed and 1 truck and 1 tank abandoned
8 civilians killed

Insurgents affiliated with the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic advanced on the government-controlled city of Mariupol in southern Donetsk Oblast, part of Ukraine, in late August 2014. This followed a wide offensive by DPR forces, allegedly supported by Russian troops, which led to their capture of the city of Novoazovsk, east of Mariupol. Fighting reached the outskirts of Mariupol on 6 September.

Events

The offensive against Mariupol began on 28 August 2014, when rebel forces captured the town of Novoazovsk and marched towards Mariupol. The Ukrainian soldiers that left Novoazovsk retreated to Mariupol to defend the city from an attack. Many citizens left Mariupol due to fear of an attack.

On 4 September, Ukrainian forces engaged a separatist reconnaissance unit, that came from the village of Bezimenne, between the villages of Shirokino and Berdyanske. One rebel tank and a truck were destroyed, while another separatist truck was left abandoned.

On 5 September, fighting primarily raged in the village of Shirokino, while clashes once again took place at Bezimenne. The clashes over the previous two days had left seven civilians dead. Also, the Azov battalion started to train Mariupol citizen to self-defense and organize popular militias to defend the city. About a dozen of ukrainian army APCs arrived with men and ammo to help the defense battalions to defend the city. More heavy fighting was reported in Mariupol despite the ceasefire agreement. Ukrainian forces shelled rebel positions near Mariupol, and claimed to have repelled an attack. Despite that, rebel forces claimed they entered Mariupol, but was denied by Ukraine.

On 6 September, seven Ukrainian Army tanks (T-64 type) faced in battle 30 advancing tanks (T-80 type), presumably belonging to Russian Army. The Ukrainians repelled the attack but lost four tanks and retreated with the three remaining tanks to the Army checkpoint on the outskirts of Mariupol. The commander of the Ukrainian tank brigade was in a state of post-shock but the three surviving tanks were reloaded with ammunition so they could return to the battlefield. Of the four lost tanks, three were destroyed and one was abandoned.

On 7 September, DPR artillery fire destroyed a Ukrainian military truck at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the town. A civilian was also killed in the shelling. The Azov Battalion also captured a tank near Mariupol, while the crew escaped. The same day, it was confirmed DPR forces had captured Shirokino and Sartana.

On September 8, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited Mariupol, telling steelworkers that Ukrainian forces had secured that city with tanks, howitzers, anti-tanks guns and other weapons should the rebels violate the ceasefire. He also promised a "crushing defeat" on the rebels if they advanced on the city.

See also

• First Battle of Mariupol

References

1. ^ Ukraine ceasefire breached in Donetsk and Mariupol
2. ^ Heavy fighting rocks eastern Ukraine port just hours into ceasefire between government and rebels
3. ^ ЭКСКЛЮЗИВ! 2 часа назад: Трасса Донецк-Мариуполь горит военная техника! Донецк, Луганск
4. ^ "The ATO Forces captured a Russian tank near Mariupol. Video". Information Resistance. September 7, 2014.
5. ^ Heavy fighting outside Mariupol despite launch of Ukrainian peace talks
6. Militia starts reconnaissance in force near Mariupol - media
7. Explosions heard, black plumes of smoke seen just east of Mariupol Port in Ukraine – RTRS witness
9. "Ukraine fighting subsides after ceasefire agreement". The Irish Times. September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
10. Сім українських танків дали героїчний бій 30-ти російським Т-80 під Маріуполем, - ЗМІ (Seven Ukrainian tank gave heroic battle against 30 Russsian T-80 tanks near Mariupol). Press of Ukraine (Uapress.info), 6 September 2014
11. Shirokino concentrated under Russian troops (video)
12. At night, the militants stepped on Mariupol on three fronts - Advisor Taruta
13. "Ukraine president visits frontline city amid 'shaky' ceasefire". Reuters. Sepotember 8, 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Template:2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine

• 2014 in Ukraine
• Battles of the war in Donbass
• History of Donetsk Oblast
• Donetsk People's Republic
• Mariupol