Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin

Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin (Ukrainian: Острів Великий Потьомкін, lit. 'Big Potemkin Island';[lower-alpha 1]) also known as Potemkin Island,[1][2] is a river island located within the Dnipro river in the Kherson urban hromada of Kherson Raion of Kherson oblast of Ukraine.

Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin
Native name:
Острів Великий Потьомкін
Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin is located in Kherson Oblast
Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin
Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin
Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin is located in Ukraine
Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin
Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin
Geography
LocationLower Dnipro river
Coordinates46°34′40.3″N 32°32′24.4″E
TypeRiver island
Area25 km2 (9.7 sq mi)
Administration
OblastKherson Oblast
RaionKherson Raion
HromadaKherson urban hromada

Geography
Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin island, outlined in red

Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin is located within the Dnipro River as a river island. Two small lakes known as Lake Zakitne and Lake Nazarove-Pohorile are contained within the island.[3] The island is divided into two parts by the Strait of Pudov (Ukrainian: Пудова Протока, romanized: Pudova Protoka), which flows through its center.[4] The total land area of the island is approximately 25 square kilometers, located around 5 kilometers to the south of Kherson city and 2 kilometers to the north of the town of Hola Prystan.[5]

History

Being located along the historic route from the Varangians to the Greeks, Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin had strategic significance for the Kyivan Rus', who established settlements on it and used it as their primary Black Sea port. Some historians believe that the historical city of Oleshshia was located on the island, whereas others believe it was closer to modern Oleshky.[6][7] Regardless of which view is correct, archaeological excavations have found evidence of the island's settlement during the period of the Kyivan Rus'.[8]

According to the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, in the 14th century, Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin became a trading post of the Republic of Genoa, one of many Genoese colonies along the Black Sea.[5]

After it was conquered by the Russian Empire, following the annexation of the Crimean Khanate in 1783, the island was renamed after Russian prince Grigory Potemkin (Ukrainian: Григорій Потьомкін, romanized: Hryhorii Potomkin), gaining the name it retains until today.[5]

During the Second World War, Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin was used as an outpost by Ukrainian partisan detachments opposing the German occupation of Ukraine, who made use of the lower Dnipro river's floodplains to arrange sabotage operations against the Nazi German invaders.[5]

Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Further information: Southern Ukraine campaign, 2022 Ukrainian southern counteroffensive, and 2022–23 Dnipro River skirmishes § Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin
Battle of Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin
Part of the Southern Ukraine campaign in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Date11 November 2022 – present
(6 months and 3 days)
Location
Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine
46°34′40.3″N 32°32′24.4″E
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Ihor Oliinyk †
Units involved

 Russian Armed Forces

GRU

 Ukrainian Armed Forces

Following the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin came under Russian occupation in the early period of the conflict as a result of the Southern Ukraine campaign. During the 2022 Ukrainian southern counteroffensive in November, it returned to Ukrainian control on 11 November, along with the nearby regional capital of Kherson.[9] Due to its position on the front line in Southern Ukraine, it was constantly shelled by Russian forces, prompting Ukraine to announce the evacuation of civilians from the island on 3 December, although due to poor weather conditions this did not materialize.[10]

On 7 December 2022, Ukrainian military officer of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine Ihor Oliinyk, commander of a reconnaissance unit operating in the Kherson region, was killed in combat on Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin.[11][12]

Some Ukrainian officials, such as presidential advisor Oleksii Arestovych and Lieutenant Colonel Konstiantyn Mashovets, as well as some unofficial Russian sources, claimed on 9 December that Russian forces, specifically the 80th Arctic Motor Rifle Brigade, 25th Special Purpose Spetsnaz Regiment, and BARS-4 Special Combat Army Reserve, had re-occupied the island following a successful amphibious operation.[9][13][2][14] However, this was contested by Serhii Khlan, advisor to the governor of Kherson, who stated that Russia did not have any presence on the island.[15] Contradicting Khlan, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces claimed on 15 December that Russia had begun forcibly deporting civilians from Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin, affirming that Russian forces controlled the island.[16][17]

On 2 January 2023, Ukrainian sources, including member of the Ukrainian parliament Oleksii Honcharenko, claimed that some or all of the island had been recaptured by Ukraine, and a video soon appeared online showing Ukrainian forces present in its northeastern portion. This news was disputed by Russian sources, and was not officially confirmed by the Ukrainian government, with Serhii Khlan saying that such information existed but could not be confirmed. Footage was thereafter published showing Russian forces operating in nearby parts of the river delta, and a Russian military blogger claimed the island remained contested.[18][19]

On 3 January 2023, Natalia Humeniuk, head of the Joint Press Center of the Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine, described the talk of the island's capture from Russia as premature, and called all announcements of such nature harmful.[20] Yevhen Yerin, head of the Joint Press Center of the Defense Forces in the Tavria direction, stated on 4 January 2023 that Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin remained in a grey zone, being controlled by neither side. He added that it was unlikely Ukraine would be able to establish full control over the island before gaining control of east-bank Kherson.[21]

On 6 March 2023, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported the destruction of 2 Russian military observation posts and an ammunition depot in the vicinity of Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin, claiming to have inflicted 18 casualties on Russian forces in the process. Additionally, the destruction of 3 motor boats being used by a Russian Sabotage and Reconnaissance Group (DRG) was claimed, along with 3 anti-aircraft missile systems and 2 units of engineering equipment.[22] Russian sources claimed on the following day, 7 March 2023, that the 126th Coastal Defence Brigade had repelled a Ukrainian attempt to assault Russian positions on the island.[23]

Notes
  1. Russian: Остров Большой Потёмкин, romanized: Ostrov Bol’shoy Potëmkin

References
  1. Toponymic information is based on the Geographic Names Database, containing official standard names approved by the United States Board on Geographic Names and maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. More information is available at the Resources link at www.nga.mil. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency name, initials, and seal are protected by 10 United States Code § Section 425.
  2. Hird, Karolina; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Bailey, Riley; Mappes, Grace; Layne, Philipson; Klepanchuk, Yekaterina; Kagan, Frederick W. (9 December 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 9". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  3. Shevchenko, I. V. (30 December 2020). "ФАУНА CHIRONOMIDAE (INSECTA, DIPTERA) ПОНИЗЗЯ ДНІПРА. ЧАСТИНА 1: ПІДРОДИНА TANYPODINAE" [CHIRONOMIDAE (INSECTA, DIPTERA) FAUNA OF LOWER DNIPRO. PART 1: SUBFAMILY TANYPODINAE]. Scientific Bulletin of Natural Sciences (Biological Sciences) (in Ukrainian) (29): 73–87. doi:10.32999/ksu2524-0838/2020-29-8 – via Kherson State University.
  4. "Strait of Pudov". Wikimapia. 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  5. Chernysh, Oleh (2023-01-03). "Бої за Великий Потьомкінський острів. Що це означає для звільнення Херсонщини?" [Battles for Potemkin Island. What does this mean for the liberation of Kherson Oblast?]. BBC News Ukrainian (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  6. Vortman, Dmytro Yakovych; Plakhonin, Andrii Havrylovych (1993). "ОЛЕШШЯ" [OLESHSHIA]. Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Naukova Dumka. 3: 728. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016.
  7. Buiskykh, Serhii Borysovych; Iievlev, Mykhailo Mykhailovych (1991). "Про осіле населення понизь Дніпра та Південного Бугу у X—XIII ст" [Settled population of the lower Dnipro and south Buh in the 10th-13th cent.] (PDF). Arkheolohiia (in Ukrainian). 4: 89–104. Retrieved 16 December 2022 – via The All-Ukrainian Рublic Association of Archaeologists .
  8. "Поселение на Большом Потемкинском острове" [Settlement on Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin]. Мой город — Херсон (in Russian). Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  9. Rohalska, Nadiia (2022-12-09). "Окупанти готують десантну операцію на Дніпрі: засіли на острові під Херсоном, – Машовець" [The occupiers are preparing an amphibious operation on the Dnieper: they landed on an island near Kherson, - Mashovets]. StopCor (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  10. "Snipers and Icy Water: Ukrainians Risk Dnipro River Crossings". Voice of America. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  11. Dymnich, Nataliia (26 January 2023). "На Херсонщині загинув військовослужбовець з Прикарпаття Ігор Олійник" [Ihor Oliinyk, a serviceman from Prykarpattia, died in Kherson Oblast]. Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  12. "Украинский десант вновь был накрыт российской артиллерией на островах в районе Херсона" [A Ukrainian landing was again covered by Russian artillery on the islands near Kherson]. Репортёр (in Russian). 19 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  13. "Россияне пытаются окружить Бахмут с севера и юга и продвигаются под Херсоном - военный эксперт" [The Russians are trying to surround Bakhmut from the north and south and are advancing near Kherson - military expert]. Strana.ua (in Russian). 9 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  14. "Arestovich: about the situation on the front line". Odessa Journal. 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  15. Burdeina, Olena (2022-12-13). "Потьомкінський острів під Херсоном: висадки російської ДРГ не було, - Хлань" [Potemkin Island near Kherson: there was no landing of a Russian DRG, - Khlan]. StopCor (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  16. "Invaders Plant Landmines at the River Banks in Kherson Region and Attempt to Connect ZNPP to Russian Energy System - General Staff". TSN.ua. 2022-12-15. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  17. Rohalska, Nadiia (2022-12-26). "Окупанти намагаються переправитись на правий берег з островів під Херсоном: їх зупиняють ЗСУ" [The occupiers are trying to cross to the right bank from the islands near Kherson: they are stopped by the Armed Forces]. StopCor (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  18. Hird, Karolina; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Bailey, Riley; Mappes, Grace; Layne, Philipson; Klepanchuk, Yekaterina; Kagan, Frederick W. (3 January 2023). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 3, 2023" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  19. "ЗСУ звільнили острів Великий Потьомкінський на Херсонщині – джерела" [The Armed Forces of Ukraine liberated Potemkin Island in the Kherson region - sources]. Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  20. "Operational Command South comments on alleged liberation of island near Kherson". Yahoo! News. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  21. "All islands are in so-called 'grey zone' – Defense Forces". Interfax-Ukraine. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  22. Herasymova, Tania (6 March 2023). "AFU Destroy 3 Motor Boats With Enemy Saboteurs Near Ostriv Velykyi Potomkin In Kherson Region - South Command". Ukrainian News Agency.
  23. Hird, Karolina; Wolkov, Nicole; Barros, George; Mappes, Grace; Mason, Clark. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 7, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
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