The Russian army has reportedly captured the town of Maryinka near Donetsk after 22 months of conflict, according to Russia's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu. The capture, which has cost approximately 15,000 Russian lives, is being described by Russian media as a significant victory and a major breakthrough. However, images and reports from the area, including the completely destroyed Novomikhailovka village in the Donetsk region, show that Maryinka has been left in ruins, with extensive destruction to buildings and infrastructure. The Russian narrative frames the event as a 'liberation,' with Russian invasion troops claiming that Ukrainian forces were shelling Donbass civilians from this location. Critics of the Russian operation liken the devastation to the destructive tactics used by German Nazis during World War II, calling into question the use of the term 'liberation'. The Ukrainian side denies the Russian claim of capturing the town, suggesting an ongoing dispute over the control of Maryinka. There are also reports that Ukrainian forces are abandoning positions, and a Ukrainian surrender may be imminent. The conflict in this region has been ongoing for years, with the current war between Russia and Ukraine starting in 2022 and a preceding civil war beginning in 2014.
NEW: Ukrainian surrender may be imminent, Russian Defense Minister is now reporting military forces have taken most of Donetsk and all of Maryinka. MEDIA BLACKOUT. This is a devastating development for Ukraine if Shoigu’s claims are accurate. https://t.co/dpfsz8lmwN
As Russian ground troops continue operations in the Lugansk republic, Ukrainian forces are abandoning their positions and retreating, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense https://t.co/n5fJ37YODM
Russian Forces Take Heavily Fortified Town of Maryinka in Biggest Triumph Since Bakhmut via @gatewaypundit https://t.co/l3TBHaNp2u
Russia says it seizes Ukrainian town of Maryinka; Kyiv denies the claim https://t.co/vAAeT11pSK
Russian forces have gained full control of Maryinka, a town in eastern Ukraine, news agencies cited the Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, as saying on Monday.
Another town destroyed. Population was 9,500. This is Donetsk Oblast. If you think Putin is "protecting russian-speakers" or "liberating" these places you're brainwashed by Kremlin lies. Or, far more likely, you actually know what's really happening and support these atrocities. https://t.co/GeU2nraYba
Today, Putin was briefed that Marinka, a Ukrainian village near Donetsk City, is "liberated". In fact, the village is totally destroyed by the constant attacks of the Russian army. https://t.co/zIpoKMWEWk
Today, Russian media is rejoicing, boasting that the Russian army has, after 22 months, finally taken the town of Mariinka. Here's what's left of Mariinka after Russians spent billions in artillery and 15,000 Russian lives there to "take" it. https://t.co/vkB9v9FxPA
The Russian army has liberated Maryinka. From this town/area the AFU was shelling Donbass civilians non-stop, for years. MAJOR breakthrough. https://t.co/aTwYshtp2W
The Russians proudly say they have liberated Ukrainian Mariinka. This is how Russia‘s „liberation“ looks like. Reminds me on how the German Nazis called mass murder „evacuation“. https://t.co/6qWZ5JY2nW
Russia Claims Capture of Maryinka, Putin Hails ‘Success’ Piles of rubbles and gutted apartment buildings over a wide area could be seen in drone images shown on Russian television that were said to be of Maryinka. https://t.co/ZRP9rX954i
This is completely destroyed town of #Marinka which Russian & Donbas separatist forces have captured following 9 years of fighting during Russia-Ukraine war since 2022 & civil war since 2014. It is located next to Donetsk. https://t.co/lRGotjjHHa
Today Putin was briefed that Marinka near Donetsk had been "liberated" from Ukraine These pictures from Russian Defence Ministry-owned Zvezda TV give some idea of the unspeakable destruction wrought upon the place https://t.co/WZuJZB746d
EXCLUSIVE | Russian forces liberate Maryinka Follow us on Telegram: https://t.co/gtQwYY5WSl https://t.co/z7E7MueUPZ
The Russian army completely freed Marinka in the DNR, Shoigu reported this to Putin. https://t.co/pBEAYdZhyH
Russia's defense minister just told Putin that Russian invasion troops have finally captured the city of Maryinka, west of Donetsk. https://t.co/2KUVr1yjkW
Russia's defence minister says they have fully "liberated" the town of Marinka near Donetsk [Picture of the town] https://t.co/1cR6Ltu0U2
You, the Russian Nazis, “liberated” Ukrainian town of Marinka from people and from buildings. This is the hellscape which was brought by you, the Nazi Russia: https://t.co/DJR8Kwu8dK https://t.co/pzaJPMT85b
The remains of the Novomikhailovka village in the Donetsk region. The village was completely destroyed by the Russian army. Putin calls this “help for the people of Donbass.” In fact, this is the destruction of Donbass. https://t.co/YQmjAbYuYP