The Russian Army has completed the liberation of Maryinka, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has announced.
"In the course of offensive operations, assault detachments from the Southern Group of Forces completely liberated the settlement of Maryinka southwest of Donetsk," Shoigu told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a briefing on Monday.
"I would like to congratulate you. This is a success. Pass on the words of gratitude to all the staff and fighters who took part at different times and at different stages [in the settlement's liberation, ed.]," Putin replied.
The president expressed confidence that control of the settlement will allow Russian forces to push Ukrainian positions further back from Donetsk.
Shoigu concurred, saying Maryinka's liberation will also make it possible to more effectively protect the city of Donetsk from Ukrainian fire.
"The liberation of this settlement naturally reduces the defense capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and gives us additional opportunities for further actions," he said.
Maryinka had been turned into a fortress over the past nine years, connected by a network of underground passages, with fortifications on almost every one of its streets, Shoigu said.
Putin asked the defense minister to distribute medals to soldiers who distinguished themselves in the strategic settlement's liberation, and instructed him to promote the commander overseeing its capture to the rank of major.
"By breaking into this fortification, which the enemy has factually been building up since 2014...our troops have the opportunity to enter a wider operational area. But, of course, this is a matter for local commanders and specialists from the General Staff and the Defense Ministry. This is a separate issue, but in any case, this opportunity arises in this area," Putin said.
Maryinka was first captured by Donbass militias seeking to break off from Kiev's control in April 2014, after the Ukrainian government installed in the February 2014 coup launched an 'Anti-Terrorist Operation' against them meant to crush the rebellion by force. Ukrainian forces, including paramilitaries from the infamous neo-Nazi Azov Regiment, recaptured Maryinka in August 2014. From that time on, the strategic town, situated directly on the western outskirts of Donetsk City, was turned into a seemingly impenetrable fortress, and used by Ukrainian forces to launch regular, indiscriminate attacks against the militia-controlled city. Battles for the settlement by Donetsk People's Republic militias, now backed by the regular Russian military, began immediately after the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022. Images of the settlement today show that it has been turned into a pile of ruins, with most civilians living in the town leaving after 2014, and the rest evacuated after 2022.