Novosvitlivka ( uk, Новосві́тлівка; russian: Новосветловка, ''Novosvetlovka'') is an

urban-type settlement Urban-type settlementrussian: посёлок городско́го ти́па, translit=posyolok gorodskogo tipa, abbreviated: russian: п.г.т., translit=p.g.t.; ua, селище міського типу, translit=selyshche mis'koho typu, ab ...

Luhansk Raion Luhansk Raion ( uk, Луганський район, russian: Луганский район) is a prospective raion (district) of Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine. It was formally created in July 2020 as part of the reform of administrative divisions of Uk ...

Luhansk Oblast Luhansk Oblast ( uk, Луга́нська о́бласть, translit=Luhanska oblast; russian: Луганская область, translit=Luganskaya oblast; also referred to as Luhanshchyna, uk, Луга́нщина) is the easternmost oblast ...

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

. The settlement is on the main

Luhansk Luhansk (, ; uk, Луганськ, ), also known as Lugansk (, ; russian: Луганск, ), is a city in what is internationally recognised as Ukraine, although it is administered by Russia as capital of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). A ...

–

Krasnodon Krasnodon (Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, Russian language, Russian: Краснодон) is a city in Luhansk Oblast (Oblast, region) of eastern Ukraine. It is incorporated as a city of regional significance (Ukraine), city of oblast significanc ...

highway. Population: , .

War in Donbas

Since 2014, Krasnodon Raion has been controlled by forces of the

Luhansk People's Republic The Luhansk or Lugansk People's Republic (russian: Луга́нская Наро́дная Респу́блика, Luganskaya Narodnaya Respublika, ; abbreviated as LPR or LNR, rus, ЛНР) is a disputed entity created by Russian-backed ...

. The town is strategically positioned such that the Ukrainian ATO (Anti-Terrorist Operations) forces occupied it on August 15, 2014, to try to stop the humanitarian aid convoy from Russia to arrive to the people of South-Eastern Ukraine. The convoy managed to arrive at the destination however the battle between ATO and separatist forces continued. The ATO forces used civilian buildings for their defense of the town which provoked separatist shelling of their positions. The photos show weapons burned by the separatist bombardment. On August 19, The coordinator of the Information Resistance group,

Dmytro Tymchuk Dmytro Borysovych Tymchuk ( uk, Дмитро́ Бори́сович Тимчу́к; 27 June 1972 – 19 June 2019) was a member of parliament of Ukraine, a Ukrainian military expert and blogger, an officer of the Ukrainian military reserve (''Lie ...

, wrote that "The ATO nti-terrorist operationforces (airmobile and mechanized units) continue defensive fighting near the settlements of Novosvitlivka and Khriashchuvate. The district has been blocked with 23 checkpoints and 29 strongholds". On August 21, journalist Vsevolod Filimonenko wrote that "Fighters of the battalion «Aidar», which controls the village, had to leave their position so the terrorists would stop the shelling of the church. Later «Aidar» returned the full control over this settlement". The battle continued over the town when, according to the Ukrainian government, "Russian" tanks of the separatist forces destroyed much of the town on August 30, including most residences. The Ukrainian governmental forces were defeated in the battle to control the town. "After weeks of yielding ground, the Russian-backed separatists are brimming with confidence following a string of seemingly effortless victories. On Saturday (August 30), Ukraine announced it was abandoning

Ilovaisk Ilovaisk (, ; ) is a city in Khartsyzk municipality, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. The city is ''de facto'' under the military occupation of Russia and administered by the Donetsk People's Republic. The city is known as a major regional railroad h ...

, a city 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of

Starobesheve Starobesheve ( uk, Старобешеве, russian: Старобешево) is an urban-type settlement in the Kalmiuske Raion of Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Starobesheve Raion. Starobesheve is located on the righ ...

. Surrounded on all sides over several days, they sustained fire so intense that the government was compelled to plead for a corridor out. "We are surrendering this city," said Ukrainian Col. Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the

National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC; uk, Рада національної безпеки і оборони України, RNBO or RNBOU) is the coordinating state body of the executive power under the President of Ukrai ...

. "Our task now is to evacuate our military with the least possible losses in order to regroup." Lysenko said that regular units of the military had also been ordered to retreat from Novosvitlivka and Khryashchuvate, two towns on the main road between the Russian border and Luhansk, the second-largest rebel-held city. Ukraine had claimed control of Novosvitlivka earlier in August."

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, the population of the settlement was 3610. 54.43% reported that their native language was

Ukrainian Ukrainian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Ukraine * Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe * Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine * So ...

, whilst 45.10% said that it was

Russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...

Gallery

File:Sõjapurustused Novosvetlovkas.jpg, Novosvitlivka professional agrarian lyceum. August 2015 File:Kultuurimaja Novosvetlovkas.jpg, House of Culture in Novosvitlivka 2015-08-09 File:Hävitatud koolimaja Novosvetlovkas.jpg, Ruined gymnasium in Novosvitlivka 08.08.2015 File:Purustatud kirik Novosvetlovkas.jpg, Ruined Church in Novosvitlivka.09.08. 2015 File:Tank memoriaal Novosvetlovkas.jpg, Tank monument in Novosvitlivka

References

{{Authority control Urban-type settlements in Luhansk Raion Krasnodon Raion Destroyed towns