The battle of Trostianets was a military engagement during the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. An ...
. The city of
Trostianets
Trostianets (also Trostyanets; uk, Тростянець, ) is a city in the Sumy Oblast in Ukraine, and serves as the administrative center of the Trostianets Raion. The city lies on the Boromlya River, from Sumy. Landmarks include a neo-Goth ...
, in
Sumy Oblast
Sumy Oblast ( uk, Сумська́ о́бласть, translit=Sumska oblast; also referred to as Sumshchyna – uk, Су́мщина) is an oblast (province) in the northeastern part of Ukraine. Population: The oblast was created in its most r ...
, was attacked by Russian forces of the 1st Guards Tank Army in late February as part of the
Northeastern Ukraine offensive
The northeastern Ukraine campaign was a theatre of operation from 24 February to 8 April 2022 in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine for control of two provinces (oblasts) in Ukraine — Chernihiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast. On 4 April 2022, Ukra ...
. Occupied for just over a month, it was re-captured by Ukrainian forces in late March, with the 1st Guards being badly mauled in the processes.
Battle
Russian offensive
Trostianets was attacked on the first day of the invasion, 24 February.
Ukrainian
territorial defense forces felled trees on the main routes into town, slowing the Russian advance.
After fighting, the city was captured by Russian forces on 1 March 2022.
The Russian military headquarters was established at the
town's main train station.
In mid-March, some Russian troops were replaced with Russian-supported
separatist
Separatism is the advocacy of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. As with secession, separatism conventionally refers to full political separation. Groups simply seeking greate ...
forces.
Approximately 800 Russian troops occupied the city.
During the occupation, Ukrainian police officers remained in the city incognito, supporting both local civilians and
partisan
Partisan may refer to:
Military
* Partisan (weapon), a pole weapon
* Partisan (military), paramilitary forces engaged behind the front line
Films
* ''Partisan'' (film), a 2015 Australian film
* ''Hell River'', a 1974 Yugoslavian film also know ...
forces operating in the area.
Ukrainian forces destroyed a bridge to the south of the city, stalling the Russian advance deeper into Ukraine.
The town's mayor, Yuriy Bova, hid in nearby villages, receiving some criticism for his decision not to stay in town, but continued to coordinate Ukrainian resistance, including shelling of Russian positions.
Reports of executions of civilians by Russian troops began in early March.
Ukrainian counter attack
A Ukrainian counter-offensive beginning on 23 March recaptured the city by 26 March.
During the fighting, the town's hospital was shelled, with residents blaming Russian forces.
After combat and shelling around the outskirts of the city, Russian troops largely withdrew overnight before the arrival of Ukrainian forces.
An
AFP report recorded "a dozen" destroyed or damaged tanks and armored vehicles.
The ''New York Times'' reported that food had grown scarce by the time the city was recaptured by Ukraine.
Aftermath
After the fighting ceased, regional governor
Dmytro Zhyvytskyi
Dmytro Oleksiyovych Zhyvytskyi ( uk, Дмитро Олексійович Живицький; born on 17 September 1982), is a Ukrainian politician, entrepreneur, public figure, and civil servant who has been the Governor of Sumy Oblast since ...
stated that some parts of the town remained mined, and that inflows of humanitarian aid were being arranged. Mayor Bova stated that at least 50 civilians had been killed by Russian occupiers.
After the occupation of the city, seven civilians were killed and at least two wounded due to traps laid by Russian soldiers across the town.
File:Manor in Trostianets after Russian invasion (01).jpg, Trostianets Museum of Local Lore, located in a 19th-century manor
File:Manor in Trostianets after Russian invasion (02).jpg, Inside the museum
File:House of estate manager of Leopold Koenig after Russian invasion (1).jpg, A forestry research station, located in a building built 1911 which is an architectural monument of national importance
File:Російська техніка під Тростянцем 18.03.2022 (1).jpg, Wreckage from a Russian column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
destroyed near Trostianets on 17 March
References
{{coord missing, Ukraine
Trostianets
Trostianets (also Trostyanets; uk, Тростянець, ) is a city in the Sumy Oblast in Ukraine, and serves as the administrative center of the Trostianets Raion. The city lies on the Boromlya River, from Sumy. Landmarks include a neo-Goth ...
February 2022 events in Ukraine
March 2022 events in Ukraine
Trostianets
Trostianets (also Trostyanets; uk, Тростянець, ) is a city in the Sumy Oblast in Ukraine, and serves as the administrative center of the Trostianets Raion. The city lies on the Boromlya River, from Sumy. Landmarks include a neo-Goth ...
History of Sumy Oblast