2014 Russian cross-border shelling of Ukraine

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The Russian cross-border artillery shelling of Ukraine happened in July–September 2014 amidst the war in Donbas to prevent the defeat of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. The Russian Armed Forces performed a series of artillery strikes targeting Ukrainian troops in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

Background

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In late June 2014, Ukrainian forces launched a major operation to restore control of the Russo-Ukrainian border. The success of this operation threatened the very existence of Russian-supported DPR and LPR statelets.[1]

History

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On 11 July 2014, a Ukrainian camp in Zelenopillya village near Ukrainian-Russian border was shelled by a modern Russian 9K51M "Tornado-G" M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, and Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties. A massive and unexpected artillery attack killed 37 and wounded over 100 soldiers.[2][3]

Main article: Zelenopillya rocket attack

On 13 July 2014, Russia claimed mortar shells fired from Ukrainian territory landed in the courtyard of a private home in the border town of Donetsk in the Rostov Oblast of Russia.[4] The shelling killed one civilian and injured two others.[5] Russia said it would be considering "surgical strikes" that target Ukrainian military positions near the border, but there would not be a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.[6]

Main article: Shelling of Donetsk, Russia

Russian artillery shelled Ukrainian territory repeatedly during the following days.[7] Live videos had captured Grad rockets fired from inside Russia.[8] According to Bellingcat's investigation, they counted at least 1,353 artillery craters in just three locations alone: in Amvrosiivka city (14 July 2014), location between Dolzhanskaya-Capital mine and the village of Panchenkove [uk] (16 July to 8 August 2014), and Khmelnytskyi (25 July 2014).[9]

On 24 July 2014, the American government stated that it had evidence that the Russian military was firing on Ukrainian territory from across the border. A spokesman for the US Department of Defence stated that there was "no question" as to Russia's involvement in the attacks on Ukrainian Armed Forces.[10] On 27 July, U.S. officials confirmed Russia had shelled Ukrainian territory.[11] At the time, Russian government spokesman denied these allegations.[12] On 28 July, US State Department published satellite photos showing heavy artillery shelling Ukrainian positions from Russian territory.[13]

The shelling had escalated at least one week prior to a Russian invasion by stealth in August 2014.[14] According to NATO reports, Russian military shelled Ukrainian positions across the border from mid-August, and by 22 August, Russian artillery and personnel had crossed the border into Ukraine itself.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ Igor Sutyagin (March 2015). "Russian Forces in Ukraine" (PDF). Royal United Services Institute. Archived from the original on 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
  2. ^ Censor.NET. "Ukrainian Troops Were Likely Shelled from Russian MRLS Tornado in Zelenopillia". EN.Censor.net. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  3. ^ "Солдати в Зеленопіллі загинули від новітнього російського "Торнадо-Г" - ЗМІ". Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  4. ^ "Ukraine's shelling could have irreversible consequences, says Russia". The Guardian. 2014-07-13. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  5. ^ "Moscow 'considering targeted strikes' on Ukraine: report". The Deccan Chronicle. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  6. ^ "Russia Considering 'Surgical Strike' on Ukraine - Report". RIA NOVOSTI. 14 July 2014.
  7. ^ Babiak, Mat (17 July 2014). "Provallia in flames, details on Russian rocket strike". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Videos Reportedly Show GRAD Rockets Fired From Inside Russia". Pressimus. 17 August 2014. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Bellingcat Report - Origin of Artillery Attacks on Ukrainian Military Positions in Eastern Ukraine Between 14 July 2014 and 8 August 2014 - bellingcat". bellingcat. 2015-02-17. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  10. ^ "Obama administration: Russia firing artillery at Ukraine military targets | Fox News". foxnews.com. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  11. ^ Frizell, Sam (27 July 2014). "U.S.: Satellite Imagery Shows Russians Shelling Eastern Ukraine". TIME. Satellite imagery shows evidence of Russian artillery attacks against the Ukrainian military, U.S. officials say
  12. ^ Barnes, Julian E.; Mauldin, William (25 July 2014). "U.S. Says Russia Firing Across Border into Ukraine — WSJ". online.wsj.com. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  13. ^ "US: Photos show Russia fired into Ukraine – Videos – CBS News". cbsnews.com. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  14. ^ Demirjian, Karoun; Birnbaum, Michael (22 August 2014). "Russia escalates tensions with aid convoy, reported firing of artillery inside Ukraine". Washington Post. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  15. ^ Michael R. Gordon (22 August 2014). "Russia Moves Artillery Units Into Ukraine, NATO Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  16. ^ Denver Nicks (22 August 2014). "NATO: Russia Artillery Fires on Ukraine Forces". TIME. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
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