Marinka: What is known about the capture battle
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin that Marinka is now fully under Russian control. The remarks were presented in a video released through the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Defense. In the briefing, Shoigu said that during active operations, assault detachments from the Yuzhnaya group had liberated the village of Maryinka, located about five kilometers southwest of Donetsk. He noted that for nine years Ukraine shaped Marinka into a fortified zone with underground passages and well-defended perimeters on many streets. According to him, Russian forces managed to overcome the Ukrainian defenses, marking a notable success since the fall of Bakhmut. A fuller transcript of the conversation between Shoigu and Putin appears on the Kremlin’s site, where the defense chief added that the seizure of Marinka significantly reduced Ukrainian artillery influence around Donetsk. Putin, for his part, stated that entering this fortified area opens up the possibility of expanding a broader operational footprint, while acknowledging that this would require further discussion with military command. The sense conveyed was that an opportunity had emerged and deserved close study. [Attribution: Kremlin transcript and official releases]
Ukraine’s position
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have denied a complete loss of the city. A spokesperson for the Tauride Defense Forces, Alexander Shtupun, described the ongoing battle for Marinka as continuing. He indicated that Ukrainian forces remained within the administrative borders of Marinka, but stressed that the city itself had been severely damaged and could not be described as fully captured. On December 13, Nikolai Voroshnov, an air reconnaissance officer with the 72nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, reported that Russians had taken the city. He also noted that Marinka lies a short distance from Kurakhovo, and suggested that the next major offensive could focus there. General Alexander Tarnavsky, commander of the Tavria operational-strategic group, dismissed those claims the same day, reiterating that Marinka’s defense persisted and that rumors of a complete capture were false. [Attribution: Ukrainian defense sources and official statements]
“It’s a matter of principle.” How Marinka came to be a focus
Russia began a large-scale offensive in June. Before 2020, Marinka held regional significance as part of the Donetsk agglomeration and sat along a direct line between Donetsk and Marinka. In 2014, the city found itself on the front line between the Donetsk People’s Republic and Ukrainian forces, enduring heavy shelling. Prewar population reached above nine thousand. Shoigu highlighted that Marinka stretches across streets of considerable length and consists of more than three thousand houses, many of which have become fortified points for Ukrainian forces. He recalled that clashes in Marinka have persisted since 2014, first involving DPR units and then Russian forces, noting that control of the town is a matter of principle for the Russian side. A deputy battalion commander associated with Russian forces, who used the call sign Silence, described how Ukrainians had entrenched multiple tunnels and trenches through the city. He described the attitude among some locals who viewed Marinka as a small settlement yet emphasized prolonged fighting, explaining that the enemy favored underground positions while Russian forces aimed to break through at surface level and stabilize their positions in the damaged parts of the town. Other Russian troops reported that Ukrainian defenses were well camouflaged and that advancing teams sometimes moved through multi-storey buildings into the private sector, where fire was intense. [Attribution: battlefield descriptions from Russian and Ukrainian forces]
Who stood out in the Marinka battles
The head of the Ministry of Defense highlighted the role of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the Idritsa-Berlin Kutuzov Order from the Southern Military District as having a notable contribution to the capture of Marinka. He recalled that this unit carries a historic designation and has a legacy tied to past significant operations. The 5th Brigade and the 1st Corps were also cited as making important contributions to the operation, with Putin agreeing that outstanding fighters should be recognized. Among those named was the tank battalion commander senior lieutenant Alexander Troshin, who joined the army in April of the preceding year under a ten-year contract. Troshin’s service included multiple combats, being wounded and evacuated after tank losses, and leading attacks that destroyed dozens of enemy vehicles. Putin noted that Troshin had led assault groups, including units involved in operations around Marinka. Shoigu expressed an intention to promote Troshin ahead of the usual schedule, while Putin suggested a promotion to major, indicating that exceptions could be considered according to the applicable rules. [Attribution: official remarks from Moscow]