Battle of Kreminna

Battle of Kreminna
Part of the Donbas offensive of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Date 18–19 April 2022 (1 day) Location Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russia Luhansk PR	Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Unknown top commander Mikhail Kishchik†	Unknown
Units involved
Russia Armed Forces Luhansk People's Militia	Ukraine Armed Forces
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown
200 civilians killed

The Battle of Kreminna was a military engagement between Russia and Ukraine over the Eastern Ukrainian city of Kreminna. It is regarded as the first battle during the Battle of Donbas.

Background

Kreminna, a city of 18,000 has been a strategic city since the beginning of Russian invasion of Ukraine because it is a passage to Kramatorsk, which is only a 1 hour drive from Kreminna.

Battle

On 18 April, Russian forces entered Kreminna, where the Governor of Luhansk Oblast Serhiy Haidai reported that street fights began and that evacuation was not possible. Tanks and other weaponry also entered where civilians were surrounded by Russian troops. Russian forces attacked from all sides, encircling the city. Fighting continued throughout the night with heavy artillery fire being shot around the streets. Russian forces later captured the city hall on the 19 April.^{[citation needed]} That evening, Serhiy reported that the remaining Ukrainian troops withdrew, giving Russian troops full control of the city.

Aftermath

Kreminna was the first city to fall during the Donbas Offensive that was announced by Russia on 18 April. The governor reported that 200 civilians were killed, but there could have been more. Ukrainian officials reported on 25 April that Russian forces were killed in a explosion in the Kreminna City Hall by a gas explosion.