Battle of Izium
Part of the Northeastern Ukraine offensive of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Date 3 March 2022-present (2 years, 3 months, 1 week and 6 days) Location Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine Result Ongoing[1]
Belligerents
Russia	Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Unknown top commander Col. Nikolay Ovcharenko †[2][3]	Unknown
Units involved
Russian Armed Forces 1st Guards Tank Army[2] 45th Separate Engineer Regiment[3]	Ukrainian Armed Forces 81st Airmobile Brigade[4]
Casualties and losses
19+ killed[3]	Unknown
100+ Ukrainian soldiers and civilians killed[5]

The Battle of Izium was a military engagement between Russia and Ukraine that occurred as part of the Southern Ukraine offensive during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022 for control of the town of Izium. Due to the town's importance as a transportation node,^[4] the Russian military wanted to capture it so its forces in the Kharkiv Oblast could link up with their troops in the Donbass region.^[6]

The Battle

Some Russian attacks on Izium started taking place from 28 February 2022, with continues rocket strikes by the Russian military starting on 3 March. Eight civilians were killed on 3 March, with the town's central hospital reportedly sustaining significant damage.^[7] The following day, Russian forces advanced towards Izium and reached its northern outskirts.^[8]

In the evening of 7 March, Russian online outlets reported that Izium had been taken by Russian forces, a claim that was not officially confirmed.^[4] The next day, fighting erupted between Russian and Ukrainian forces for control of the town,^[9] with Russian troops ultimately being repelled.^[10] Between 9 and 10 March, 2,250 civilians were evacuated from Izium,^[7] while Russian forces continued to slowly advance towards the town.^[11]

On 12 March, Russian troops captured the northern part of the town.^[12] The following day, the Russian military made more advances,^[13] but were repelled, according to the Ukrainian military.^[14]

On 17 March, Izium was reportedly captured by Russian forces,^[15] although fighting continued.^[16]

Between 19 and 20 March, a new Russian attempt to capture the center of Izium was repelled.^[14] During the fighting, Russian engineering troops attempted to make a pontoon bridge over the Donets river,^[17] so to bypass two vehicle bridges that were partially destroyed by Ukrainian forces in an attempt to halt the Russian advance.^[6] However, the engineering troops were ambushed and 19 Russian soldiers were killed and 46 wounded. Among the dead was the commander of the engineering unit, Colonel Nikolay Ovcharenko.^[2][3] Eventually, Russian forces managed to erect two pontoon bridges and Russian tanks crossed the river to encircle the Ukrainian-held part of Izium.^[6] During this time, on 22 March, Ukrainian forces made an attempted counterattack to regain control of the town.^[18]

On 24 March, the Russian military announced that it had taken full control of Izium,^[19][20] which was denied by Ukraine which stated that fighting was still ongoing.^[21] According to a local official, Russian forces were holding the northern part of the town, while Ukrainian soldiers were in the south, with the Donets river separating them. He also confirmed that Izium was surrounded and that the city had been "completely destroyed" by this point.^[5]

On 25 March, as The Wall Street Journal reported the Russian military had captured Izium,^[1] Russian forces broke through Ukrainian lines to the south^[22] and reached the outskirts of two villages,^[23] where they were repelled, according to the Ukrainian military.^[14]

References