Novosvitlivka, Luhansk Oblast

Novosvitlivka
Новосві́тлівка
Novosvitlivka is located in Luhansk Oblast
Novosvitlivka
Novosvitlivka
Location of Novosvitlivka in Luhansk Oblast
Novosvitlivka is located in Ukraine
Novosvitlivka
Novosvitlivka
Location of Novosvitlivka in Ukraine
Coordinates: 48°29′41″N 39°30′13″E / 48.49472°N 39.50361°E / 48.49472; 39.50361
Country Ukraine
Oblast Luhansk Oblast
RaionLuhansk Raion
HromadaMolodohvardiisk urban hromada
Founded1860
Elevation
55 m (180 ft)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
3,648
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
94 456
Area code+380 06435

Novosvitlivka (Ukrainian: Новосві́тлівка; Russian: Новосветловка, Novosvetlovka) is a rural settlement in Molodohvardiisk urban hromada, Luhansk Raion, Luhansk Oblast (region), Ukraine. The settlement is on the main LuhanskKrasnodon highway, between Khryashchuvate and Izvarino. Population: 3,648 (2022 estimate)[1], 3,711 (2013 est.)[2].

Since 2014, Krasnodon Raion, including Novosvitlikva, has been controlled by forces of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR / LNR).[3] Following the 2022 annexation referendums in Russian-occupied Ukraine, Russia has claimed the settlement as part of their LNR / LPR.

War in Donbas

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. [4]

The "convoy" managed to arrive at the destination however the battle between ATO and separatist forces continued. The ATO forces used buildings for their defense of the town which provoked separatist shelling of their positions. The photos[5]

On August 19, The coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Dmytro Tymchuk, wrote that "The ATO [anti-terrorist operation] forces (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".[6]

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". [7]

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.[8]

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, a city 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Starobesheve. 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. "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."[9]

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, the population of the settlement was 3610. 54.43% reported that their native language was Ukrainian, whilst 45.10% said that it was Russian.[10]

References

  1. ^ Чисельність наявного населення України на 1 січня 2022 [Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2022] (PDF) (in Ukrainian and English). Kyiv: State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2022.
  2. ^ Чисельність наявного населення України [Actual population of Ukraine] (in Ukrainian). State Statistics Service of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Численность населения по состоянию на 1 октября 2015 года по Луганской Народной Республике" (PDF) (in Russian). Luhansk People's Republic. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Ukraine at odds with Russia over relief convoy". Associated Press. 15 August 2014.
  5. ^ Censor.NET (22 August 2014). "After Terrorists Fired at Novosvitlivka Village by MRLS Uragan. PHOTOS". censor.net.ua.
  6. ^ "Ukrinform - Ukrainian National News Agency".
  7. ^ "Terrorists carried out a strike on a church in Novosvitlivka, where residence sought refuge | Info Resist". Archived from the original on 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2014-09-01.
  8. ^ Balmforth, Richard; Adrian Croft (30 August 2014). "Ukraine says Russian tanks flatten town; EU to threaten more sanctions". Reuters. Retrieved 2014-08-30.
  9. ^ "Pro-Russia rebels confident after making gains - Yahoo News". news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-31.
  10. ^ "Банк даних". database.ukrcensus.gov.ua.