View source for Siege of the Luhansk border base

{{Short description|2014 siege during the War in Donbas}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Lead too short|date=November 2023}}
{{Update|reason=Needs more information on aftermath & legacy|date=November 2023}}
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{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Siege of the border base
| partof            = the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]]
| image             = Luhansk oblast detail map.png
| image_size        = 170px
| caption           = Map of the Luhansk Oblast
| date              = 2–4 June 2014<br>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=06|day1=02|year1=2014|month2=06|day2=04|year2=2014}})
| place             = Outskirts of Luhansk
| coordinates       = {{Coord|48|31|25|N|39|15|29|E|}}
| map_type          =
| map_relief        =
| latitude          =
| longitude         =
| map_size          =
| map_marksize      =
| map_caption       =
| map_label         =
| territory         =
| result            = Luhansk People's Republic victory<ref>{{cite news|date=June 4, 2014|title=Ukraine Separatists Seize Government Bases, Several Killed|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/04/ukraine-unrest_n_5444330.html|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]]|access-date=June 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614104304/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/04/ukraine-unrest_n_5444330.html|url-status=live|archive-date=June 14, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| status            =
| combatants_header =
| combatant1        = {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukraine]]
| combatant2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Lugansk People's Republic.svg}} [[Luhansk People's Republic]]
| combatant3        =
| commander1        = {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Unknown
| commander2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Lugansk People's Republic.svg}} [[Valery Bolotov]]
| commander3        =
| units1            = {{flagicon image|Ensign of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.svg}} [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]]:
*{{flagicon image|Ensign of the Ukrainian Air Force.svg}} [[Ukrainian Air Force]]<ref>{{cite news|date=June 3, 2014|title=Air attack on pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk kills 8, stuns residents|url= http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/03/world/europe/ukraine-luhansk-building-attack/|agency=CNN|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref>
[[File:Эмблема МВД Украины.svg|22px]] [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)|Internal Affairs Ministry]]:
*{{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_National_Guard_of_Ukraine.svg}} [[National Guard of Ukraine|National Guard]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.svg}} [[State Border Guard Service of Ukraine|State Border Guard]]
| units2            = {{flagicon image|Flag of the St George Ribbon.svg}} [[Army of the South-East]]:
*[[File:Don Cossacks National Guard Banner.jpg|25px]] [[United Armed Forces of Novorossiya#Structure|Cossack National Guard]]
**{{flagicon|Russia}} Russian volunteers
| units3            =
| strength1         = 70<ref>{{cite news|date=June 3, 2014|title=Ukraine: deaths reported in Luhansk border attack|url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/06/03/ukraine-deaths-reported-in-luhansk-border-attack/|agency=[[Euronews]]|access-date=June 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603034631/http://www.euronews.com/2014/06/03/ukraine-deaths-reported-in-luhansk-border-attack/|url-status=live|archive-date=June 3, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| strength2         = 100–500<ref>{{cite news|author=Luke Harding|title=Ukraine: pro-Russia rebels killed attempting to storm border guard base|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/02/pro-russion-rebels-killed-in-attack-on-east-ukraine-border-base|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=June 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606095349/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/02/pro-russion-rebels-killed-in-attack-on-east-ukraine-border-base|url-status=live|archive-date=June 6, 2014|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| strength3         =
| casualties1       = 10 wounded<ref name=hq>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/06/02/500-separatists-storm-border-control-building-in-Luhansk-Ukraine/4091401717113/|title=Border Control HQ in Luhansk Stormed|work=UPI|access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name=bases/>
| casualties2       = 11 killed, 8 wounded<ref name=hq/><ref name=bases/>
| casualties3       = 8–13 civilians killed<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/03/world/europe/ukraine-luhansk-building-attack/|title=Air attack on pro-Russian separatists kills 8|date=June 3, 2014 |agency=CNN|access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name=13die/>
| notes             =
| campaignbox       = {{Campaignbox 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine}}
}}
The '''siege of the Luhansk border base''' was a two-day-long standoff at a [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] border base located on the outskirts of [[Luhansk]] city, from 2 to 4 June 2014.
==Background==
After the end of the [[2014 Ukrainian revolution]], eastern Ukraine experienced pro-Russian protests. Government buildings that were initially occupied were retaken, but on 6 April the [[Security Service of Ukraine]] office in Luhansk was occupied by protesters.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine: Pro-Russians storm offices in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv|date=April 6, 2014|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26910210|publisher=BBC News|access-date=June 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603234827/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26910210|archive-date=June 3, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On 29 April many other key buildings, such as the Regional State Administration buildings and the prosecutor's office were seized.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russia activists take Luhansk offices|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27206280|publisher=BBC News|date=April 29, 2014|access-date=June 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603234856/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27206280|archive-date=June 3, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Pro-Russian separatists soon expanded their control to other cities, and held a referendum on 11 May 2014, which they said showed that 96% of voters backed an independent Luhansk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-referendum-idUSBREA4B06Q20140512|title=Results show 96.2 percent support for self-rule in east Ukraine region: RIA|author=Reuters Editorial|date=12 May 2014|work=Reuters|access-date=6 June 2016}}</ref> The border to Luhansk experienced a heavy flow of Russians trying to cross into Ukraine to join the separatists, with many attempts repelled.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=25518#.U5KZACi8BcA|title=Ukraine separatists lay siege to Luhansk base|date=June 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714140036/http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=25518#.U5KZACi8BcA|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==Fighting==
On 2 June at 12:30 AM, 100 rebel fighters attacked the border guard base, but the guards of the [[State Border Guard Service of Ukraine]] exchanged fire and managed to repel the attack. However, the numbers of rebels increased to 400, and according to the border guards, the rebels then went to residential areas, and fired from the tops of nearby apartments.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Christopher J. Miller|author2=Mark Rachkevych|title=Insurgents assault Ukrainian border guards in Luhansk Oblast; at least 15 wounded, 5 dead|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/insurgents-assault-ukrainian-border-guards-in-luhansk-oblast-350281.html|work=Kyiv Post|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=June 5, 2014|archive-date=June 5, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605021657/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/insurgents-assault-ukrainian-border-guards-in-luhansk-oblast-350281.html|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Pro-Russia militia attack Ukraine border post|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-attacks-idUSKBN0ED0M720140602|work=[[Reuters]]|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=June 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825235904/https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/02/us-ukraine-crisis-attacks-idUSKBN0ED0M720140602|archive-date=August 25, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Militants used automatic weapons and RPGs against the border guards.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Nebi Qena|author2=Petyer Leonard|title=Pro-Russia Rebels Attack Ukrainian Border Guards|url=https://news.yahoo.com/pro-russia-rebels-attack-ukrainian-border-guards-145953084.html|publisher=[[Yahoo! News]]|agency=Associated Press|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=June 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714161004/http://news.yahoo.com/pro-russia-rebels-attack-ukrainian-border-guards-145953084.html|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> A lone plane was detached to try to support the border guards who were battling the rebels.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27661113|publisher=BBC News|date=June 2, 2014|title=Ukraine crisis: Border guards' camp attacked in Luhansk|access-date=June 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630210434/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27661113|archive-date=June 30, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to the border guards, some of the militants were foreign fighters from Russia.<ref name=bbc/>
Ukrainian fighter jets launched air raids on separatist strongholds in Luhansk itself to support the border guards.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine separatists lay siege to Luhansk base|url=http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=25518#.U6ctVrG8BcB|newspaper=Ammon|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=June 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714140036/http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=25518#.U6ctVrG8BcB|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> At least one airplane was seen flying ahead, and a rocket exploded at the Luhansk RSA, killing 8–13 civilians and injuring many others. The Government of Ukraine denied that they were responsible and claimed it was caused by a misfired rebel portable surface-to-air missile.<ref name=13die>{{cite news|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/luhansk-peoples-republic-says-13-die-in-june-2-fighting-350445.html|title=Lugansk People's Republic claim 13 die in fighting|work=Kyiv Post|agency=[[Interfax-Ukraine]]|date=June 3, 2014|access-date=June 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607033650/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/luhansk-peoples-republic-says-13-die-in-june-2-fighting-350445.html|archive-date=June 7, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="o.canada.com">{{cite web|url=http://o.canada.com/news/insurgents-attack-ukrainians-border-guard-camp-injuring-seven|title=Hundreds of armed pro-Russians attack border camp|website=Canada.com|agency=Associated Press|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=June 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223608/http://o.canada.com/news/insurgents-attack-ukrainians-border-guard-camp-injuring-seven|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The next day, the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] published a report, based on 'limited observation', in which they blamed the explosion on an air-strike.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/heavy-fighting-in-eastern-ukraine-as-government-restarts-active-phase-of-anti-terror-operation-350453.html|author=Christopher J. Miller|title=Two Ukrainian troops killed in battles with insurgents on June 3; OSCE says Luhansk blast on June 2 likely caused by airstrike (UPDATES, VIDEO)|work=Kyiv Post|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621111623/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/heavy-fighting-in-eastern-ukraine-as-government-restarts-active-phase-of-anti-terror-operation-350453.html|archive-date=June 21, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The military admitted conducting over 150 air-strikes during the day in the Luhansk area.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
Heavy fighting raged on until later on in the day. By the end of the first day, the attack had failed and the Border Guards still remained in control, with seven of them wounded.<ref name="o.canada.com"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Heavy Gunbattle Erupts at Ukraine Border-Guard Outpost|url=https://online.wsj.com/articles/heavy-gunbattle-erupts-at-ukrainian-border-guard-outpost-officials-say-1401702357|journal=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=June 29, 2014}}</ref>
On 3 June the situation was calmer, but the rebels continued to lay siege to the base.<ref name=lay>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/06/ukraine-separatists-lay-siege-luhansk-base-201462145027697800.html|title=Ukraine separatists lay siege to Luhansk base|agency=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|date=June 3, 2014|access-date=June 5, 2014|archive-date=June 8, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608062354/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/06/ukraine-separatists-lay-siege-luhansk-base-201462145027697800.html|df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to a spokesman for the Border Guards, Cossacks were among the separatists besieging them as well. He also said that no Ukrainian troops were coming to the rescue. Valery Bolotov, the "people's governor" of Luhansk stated that if the Border Guards did not withdraw by the evening, they would be "wiped off the face of the earth."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/04/world/europe/new-fighting-reported-in-eastern-ukraine.html?_r=0|title=Ukraine Pushes Back as rebels attack in the East|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=June 7, 2014|archive-date=July 16, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716165121/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/04/world/europe/new-fighting-reported-in-eastern-ukraine.html?_r=0|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Russia called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. They accused Ukraine of crimes against its own people.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 June 2014|title=Ukraine separatists lay siege to Luhansk base|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/6/3/ukraine-separatists-lay-siege-to-luhansk-base|access-date=2022-01-17|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}</ref>
On 4 June the Ukrainian troops surrendered. They were authorized to withdraw from the base and were redeployed elsewhere. Pro-Russian separatists captured ammunition from the base, and allowed the remaining the border guards to leave.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/6-militants-killed-3-ukrainian-troops-injured-in-luhansk-fighting-1.1852230|title = 6 militants killed, 3 Ukrainian troops injured in Luhansk fighting|date = June 4, 2014|work = CTV News}}</ref> Separatists took the base, as well as a [[National Guard of Ukraine|National Guard]] base near Luhansk and another border guard base in Sverdlovsk.<ref name=bases>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/pro-russian-rebels-take-control-of-3-government-bases-in-eastern-ukraine|title=Pro-Russian rebels take control of 3 government bases|agency=Associated Press|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=June 5, 2014|archive-date=June 5, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605103234/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/06/04/ukraine-offensive-stalled-by-insugents-lack-ammunition/|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27693781|title=Ukraine Crisis: Rebels take bases in Luhansk region|publisher=BBC News|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=June 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605174558/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27693781|archive-date=June 5, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The National Guard base fell after soldiers there ran out of ammunition,<ref>{{cite news|author1=Nebi Qena|author2=Monika Scislowska|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/militants-killed-ukrainian-troops-injured-23984915|title=Rebels Seize 3 Government Bases in Eastern Ukraine|agency=Associated Press|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617124451/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/militants-killed-ukrainian-troops-injured-23984915|archive-date=June 17, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> while separatists seized quantities of ammunition and explosives from the Luhansk border guard post.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1373185/6-militants-killed-3-ukrainian-troops-injured/|title=6 militants killed, 3 Ukrainian troops injured in Luhansk|date=4 June 2014|work=Global News|access-date=June 21, 2014}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Outline of the Russo-Ukrainian War]]
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{War in Donbas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luhansk Border Base, Siege of the}}
[[Category:2014 in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Battles in 2014]]
[[Category:Sieges of the Russo-Ukrainian War]]
[[Category:Luhansk Oblast in the Russo-Ukrainian War]]
[[Category:Battles of the war in Donbas]]
[[Category:June 2014 events in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Attacks on military installations in 2014]]
[[Category:Attacks on military installations in Ukraine]]