Ivanivske, Donetsk Oblast

Ivanivske (Ukrainian: Іванівське [iˈʋɑn⁽ʲ⁾iu̯sʲke]), known as Krasne (Ukrainian: Кра́сне) before 2016, is a small town (selo) in eastern Ukraine, located in Bakhmut Raion, Donetsk Oblast. It is located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) west of Bakhmut.

History

Ivanivske was founded in the 18th century under the Russian Empire as a dacha of Bakhmut by Protopope Ivan Lukyanov. The protopope was known for his spiritual leadership, and many Cossacks came to his farm to work for the sake of spiritual salvation.

In 1776, the lands of the farm were given to Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Vasylyovych Shabelsky, who founded the settlement of Ivanivka on his new possessions. The village continued to grow, and by 1859, it had 667 residents, 87 farmsteads, an Orthodox church, a factory, and three fairs a year. By 1886, the population had grown to 767, with 135 farmsteads, an Orthodox church, a bench, and two fairs a year. In 1908, the village had 1,473 residents.

According to records, as a result of the Holodomor, 52 residents of Ivanivske died. The village's history is also intertwined with the burial mounds of the Bronze Age, which are located near the village.

Russo-Ukrainian War

On 7 February 2023, during the Russian invasion phase of the Russo-Ukrainian War, fighting began near Ivanivske. It was on the frontline of the Battle of Bakhmut, during which Wagner Group mercenaries briefly entered it.

On 23 February 2024, Russian forces began serious operations to capture Ivanivske. Exactly a month later on 23 March, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed it had seized the village.

On 2 April 2024 Ukrainian forces claimed to have blown up a bridge in Ivanivske that the Russians were using for logistics, using the ground kamikaze drone Ratel S.

The Institute for the Study of War estimated on 11 April that Russian troops had likely seized all of the settlement. However, DeepStateMap.Live contested this by reporting on 13 April that Ukrainian forces still held a presence in Ivanivske. This was further corroborated by geolocated footage posted on 15 April showing Russian forces striking Ukrainian positions in the westernmost part of the settlement. However, by May 13 the ISW was compelled to acknowledge that Russian units had advanced westwards from Ivanivkse down the T-0504 Highway towards Chasiv Yar. It is unknown under what basis they believe Ivanivske to still be contested, as the Russians have begun to use the town as a forward base for the Battle of Chasiv Yar, and the supposed "hold" that Ukraine has had over the town over the previous two months seems tenuous at best.

Demographics

According to the 2001 Ukrainian census, the village had a population of 1,732, of whom 62.7% spoke Ukrainian, 36.66% spoke Russian, and 0.64% spoke other languages.

References

External links

1. Donetsk People's Republic
2. Klishchiivka
3. Territorial control during the Russo-Ukrainian War
4. Ivanivske
5. List of villages in Donetsk Oblast
6. Timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (1 April 2024 – present)
7. Timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (1 December 2023 – 31 March 2024)
8. Battle of Chasiv Yar
9. Yuri Lushchai
10. Krasne
11. 98th Guards Airborne Division
12. Bakhmut urban hromada
13. 72nd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade
14. 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive
15. Krasna Hora
16. Eastern Ukraine campaign
17. Shyroka Balka
18. Timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (12 November 2022 – 7 June 2023)
19. List of Ukrainian toponyms that were changed as part of decommunization in 2016
20. Battle of Bakhmut