Eleven years ago, on July 5, 2014, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated the cities of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk from Russian occupation. This was the first significant and extremely important victory over Russian terrorist forces in the first year of the war initiated by Moscow. This day became symbolic for Donetsk, a symbol of hope in the struggle for independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The cities of northern Donetsk, captured in April 2014, became the arena for holding fake referendums on joining the so-called "DPR." However, in June–July 2014, the Ukrainian army, consisting of regular troops and volunteer battalions, halted the advance of the occupation and liberated part of the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk from militants.
An important prerequisite for the liberation of Sloviansk and the Kramatorsk agglomeration was the liberation of Lyman in June 2014.
On July 3, 2014, ATO forces blocked the city of Mykolaivka and also reached the highway "Kharkiv—Dovzhansky." During this operation, one Ukrainian soldier (Volodymyr Chepelyuk) was killed, and four were wounded. On July 4, 2014, Mykolaivka was liberated.
Continuing the liberation operation, the Defense Forces of Ukraine pushed pro-Russian militants out of Sloviansk. During the fighting on July 4, Ukrainian forces lost two servicemen: Dmytro Keda and Anton Lysenko.
On the night of July 4 to 5, a heavy battle took place at the 5th checkpoint located on the road between Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. While fleeing from the city of Sloviansk, Russian occupation forces attempted to break through this checkpoint. During the battle, five units of enemy armored vehicles were destroyed. This was the result of an attempt by one of the columns of militants to make a night exit from Sloviansk. In that battle, the Defense Forces lost three warriors - Roman Mendel, Oleksandr Serebryakov, and Anton Ihnatchenko…
Eleven years ago, in the cities of northern Donetsk, Ukrainian warriors returned the state flags of Ukraine. And since then, they proudly wave there, despite constant enemy shelling. And although today the Russian full-scale aggression is destroying what has been restored and developed over the past years, we have no doubt that, thanks to the Defense Forces of Ukraine, the people of Ukraine, and the international community, all enemy attacks will be repelled, and the Russian invaders will ultimately be expelled from our land.
We believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine! We believe in victory! Glory to Ukraine!