In the spring of 2014, the Donetsk region found itself at the epicenter of turbulent events: for the first time, Russia—shedding its mask as a friendly neighbor—began seizing Ukrainian territories using pro-Russian mercenaries and, later, its regular army. Countless settlements found themselves under occupation. As early as May, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with volunteer battalions, began liberating settlements in the region. Today, it is important to preserve the memory of those events and of the heroes who bravely stood up to defend Ukraine from the very first days of the war and who have paid—and continue to pay—an exorbitant price for our freedom.
In mid-June 2014, the village of Yampil, located in the Lyman district, became the site of bloody battles between Ukrainian forces and the occupying army.
The backbone of the Russian occupation forces’ defense in the Yampil sector was a checkpoint northwest of the city of Lyman, which was quite well-fortified from an engineering standpoint. The bridges across the Siverskyi Donets River near the villages of Zakytne and Kryva Luka were also a crucial element of the “lifeline” for Russian troops.
On the night of June 19, the first column of Ukrainian paratroopers from the 25th Dnipropetrovsk Separate Airborne Brigade advanced toward the militants’ Yampil checkpoint, but as they approached it, our soldiers fell into an enemy ambush. Timely reinforcements managed to turn the tide of battle, and the aggressor’s units were scattered and repelled.
At the same time, two combined groupsof the 24th Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo, reinforced by National Guard special forces. Unable to counter the tanks, the enemy abandoned Yampil without a fight.
As a result, units of the aggressor’s army were pushed back across the Siverskyi Donets River, the bridges over which were of critical importance for supplying weapons and equipment to the Slavic group of occupiers.
After regrouping, the enemy set up an ambush on the southern bank of the river near Zakitne. Seven soldiers from the 24th Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo were killed in that battle. Despite the reinforcements that the Russian terrorist command sent to repel the Ukrainian offensive, these efforts were in vain—positions of strategic importance to the aggressor were lost forever.
As a result of the operation on June 19, 16 servicemenfrom the 24th Mechanized, 25th Airborne, and 95th Airmobile Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Two more soldiers were killed near the village of Kryva Luka on June 30 and July 2, 2014.
May the heroes rest in peace!