Battle of Davydiv Brid

Battle of Davydiv Brid
Part of the southern Ukraine offensive in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Map of combat operations in the vicinity of Davydiv Brid
Date 27 May – 16 June 2022 (2 weeks and 6 days) Location Davydiv Brid, Beryslav Raion, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russia	Ukraine
Units involved
	5th Tank Brigade

The battle of Davydiv Brid was a Ukrainian counter-offensive operation during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In reaction to Russia's southern Ukraine offensive, Ukrainian forces attempted to recapture part of Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast and tie up Russian resources. The counteroffensive began on 27 May 2022 and was centered near the village of Davydiv Brid, which was initially recaptured by Ukraine; however, they were pushed back over the Inhulets River by 16 June 2022. However, another bridgehead near Lozove was retained by Ukrainian forces. ^[1] In a subsequent Ukrainian southern counteroffensive that was launched two and a half months later, Davydiv Brid was reported as captured by Ukrainian forces on 4 October. ^[2]

Background

Main articles: Southern Ukraine offensive and Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast

Further information: Battle of Kherson, Battle of Melitopol, and Battle of Mykolaiv

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, in a steep escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which had begun in 2014. The invasion caused Europe's fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II, ^{[3] [4]} with more than 6.5 million Ukrainians fleeing the country ^[5] and a third of the population displaced. ^{[6] [7]} From February 24 to March 1, Russian forces captured most of Kherson Oblast, including the cities of Berdiansk and Melitopol. ^{[8] [9]}

On 2 March, Russian forces captured Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city to be occupied by Russia during the invasion. ^{[10] [11] [12] [13]} In March, Russian troops continued their drive into Mykolaiv Oblast, but they were repulsed by the beginning of April. ^{[14] [15]} After the Ukrainian victories in the battles of Mykolaiv and Voznesensk, the Kherson–Mykolaiv front began to stall.

Battle

On the afternoon of May 27, Ukraine launched a counterattack in Kherson Oblast near Davydiv Brid. ^[16] Ukrainian formations, led by the 5th Tank Brigade, with the support of American-made M777 howitzers, crossed the Inhulets River during the night of 27/28 May around Davydiv Brid, 50 miles northeast of Kherson. The Russians retreated from Davydiv Brid to three towns a few miles southwest. ^[16] The following day new reports confirmed that Ukrainian forces carried out a successful limited counterattack, forcing Russian forces on the defensive. This Ukrainian counterattack was probably aimed at disrupting Russia's efforts to establish strong defensive positions along the southern axis and to further slow Russia's efforts to consolidate administrative control over occupied southern Ukraine. ^[17]

On 31 May, satellite imagery showed that Russian troops had withdrawn from Davydiv Brid and set up positions at locations around the town in the previous few days. It was not clear at the time whether Ukrainian troops had entered the town or had positions near Andriivka and Bilohirka. However, in the evening of the same day, the fighting between the Russian and Ukrainian forces escalated. On the night between May 31 and 1 June, Ukrainian sources announced that Ukrainian forces had captured the town of Davydiv Brid. ^{[18] [17] [19]}

Fierce battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces for Davydiv Brid continued in the first half of June with neither side able to assume full control. Artillery strikes became commonplace on both sides. The Ukrainian counter-offensive on Davydiv Brid was followed by a series of partisan actions by pro-Ukrainian activists, which led to intensified actions by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Kherson region. ^[20] On 6 June, Russian sources reported the Ukrainian bridgehead at Davydiv Brid had been destroyed and Ukrainian forces pushed back over the Inhulets River, which was confirmed by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) two weeks later, affirming Russian forces had retaken the eastern bank of the river. ^[21]

On 13 June, Ukrainian forces were still reported to be engaged in heavy fighting with Russian forces near Davydiv Brid. Ukrainian commanders claimed their forces gradually forced Russian troops back and were testing their second and third lines of defense. ^[22] Artillery duels over the river continued between 17 and 21 June, with the ISW reporting Russian forces had pushed back Ukrainian troops sometime before 17 June. ^[21] Still, on 5 July, ISW reported that Ukrainian forces retained control of some territory in the area, although precise boundaries were unclear. ^[1] On 27 July, Russian forces attempted an assault on the Ukrainian bridgehead, southwest of Davydiv Brid. ^[23]

Aftermath

From the end of August, Ukrainian forces again pushed towards Davydiv Brid during its counteroffensive in Kherson Oblast. From 2 to 3 October, Ukrainian forces attacked the town, but were repelled twice. ^{[24] [25]} Still, by 4 October, Russian forces withdrew and the town was captured by Ukrainian troops. ^{[26] [27]}

See also

• Southern Ukraine offensive
  • Battle of Kherson
  • Battle of Mykolaiv
  • 2022 Chornobaivka attacks

References

1. "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JULY 5".
2. Interfax. "Davydiv Brid in Kherson region liberated from occupation – military". en.interfax.com.ua. Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
3. Blake, Daniel Keane, Elly (15 March 2022). "What is the Homes for Ukraine refugees scheme and how do you apply?". Evening Standard . Retrieved 15 March 2022.
4. Pita, Antonio; Costa, Raúl Sánchez (3 March 2022). "Ukrainian exodus could be Europe's biggest refugee crisis since World War II". El Pais . Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
5. "Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees . Retrieved 10 May 2022.
6. Ratcliffe, Rebecca; Clayton, Abené; Gabbatt, Adam; Chao-Fong, Léonie; Lock, Samantha; Ambrose, Tom (19 March 2022). "Biden outlines 'consequences' if China aids Russia – as it happened". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
7. "Ukraine war: Putin being misled by fearful advisers, US says". BBC News. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
8. Marina Korobova (1 March 2022). ""Мелитополь не сдался, Мелитополь – временно оккупирован" – городской голова о ситуации на 1 марта" ["Melitopol did not surrender, Melitopol is temporarily occupied" - the mayor on the situation on March 1]. Mestnyye Vesti (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
9. "Some Russians surrender but situation remains grave - US". BBC News . Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
10. "Russian forces have entered Kherson, says Ukrainian official". Reuters. 2022-03-01. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
11. Eugene Shaporenko (2 March 2022). "У Херсоні ворог захопив залізничний вокзал та річковий порт". Fakty i Kommentarii (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
12. Schwirtz, Michael; Pérez-Peña, Richard (2022-03-02). "First Ukraine City Falls as Russia Strikes More Civilian Targets". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
13. James, Liam (2022-03-03). "Russian claims it has seized Kherson as city's mayor agrees to curfew". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
14. "Practically no invaders left in Mykolayiv region – head of administration". www.ukrinform.net. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
15. "Ukraine says five killed in shelling in city of Mykolaiv". reuters.com. 16 April 2022.
16. Axe, David (28 May 2022). "Ukraine has launched its southern counteroffensive". Forbes .
17. Karolina Hird; Mason Clark; George Barros (2022-05-29). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 29". understandingwar.org. ISW . Retrieved 2022-05-30. The Ukrainian General Staff noted that Russian forces are attempting to recapture positions in Andriivka, Bilohirka, and Bila Krynytsia, indicating the Ukrainian counteroffensive south of Davydiv Brid recaptured these positions on the Kherson-Mykolaiv border on May 28.
18. "Invaders mining Inhulets River coast to hold off Ukrainian troops". ukrinform.net. 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-06-02. "In the Southern Buh direction, the enemy is defending and mining the coast of the Inhulets River in areas where units of our troops may be operating. It is also engaged in counter-battery combat, inflicting air strikes with the involvement of army aircraft in the area of the settlement of Davydiv Brid, Kherson region," the statement reads.
19. "Розподіл населення за рідною мовою на ukrcensus.gov.ua" [Distribution of the population by native language at ukrcensus.gov.ua]. database.ukrcensus.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 2014-07-31. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
20. "In Kherson, misery under Russian occupation, hope over Ukrainian gains". www.washingtonpost.com.
21. "RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 21". 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022. Russian forces likely recaptured the eastern bank of the Inhulets River from the Ukrainian bridgehead situated near the Kherson-Mykolaiv Oblast border... The assessment that Russian forces destroyed a bridgehead on the left bank of the Inhulets river is consistent with unconfirmed Russian claims that Russian forces expelled Ukrainian forces from this area around June 6.
22. Eckel, Mike (16 June 2022). "Is Ukraine Losing the War? Depends on How You Look at It". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
23. "russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-27 russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-27". www.criticalthreats.org.
24. "ukraine-war-ukrainian-counter-offensive-continues-gains-in-east-as-putin-pushes-war-to-dangerous-point-news-227404". www.outlookindia.com. 3 October 2022.
25. "russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-3". understandingwar.org.
26. Interfax. "Davydiv Brid in Kherson region liberated from occupation – military". en.interfax.com.ua. Interfax. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
27. tweet 1577270974868852736 twitter.com

47°14′31″N33°11′28″E / 47.242°N 33.191°E / 47.242; 33.191