Film shows battle for Voznesensk, which kept russians from reaching Odesa

The journalists of the Mykolaiv edition Nikvesti' filmed a video about the siege of and successful defence of Voznesensk in Mykolayiv Region. If the enemy took Voznesensk, it would open the way to Odesa and the nuclear power plant in Yuzhnoukrainsk.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces and The Territorial Defense repelled russian invaders entering the City, March 2-3.

Voznesensk is a city of regional significance, located 80 kilometers north of Mykolaiv. The South Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant is located 25 kilometers from Voznesensk. The city also has a bridge across the Southern Bug, which is the only alternative road to Odesa bypassing Mykolaiv.

Voznesensk Mayor Yevhen Velychko said that the decisive factor in the fight against the occupiers was the tactical decision to blow up bridges across the Southern Bug after russian soldiers entered the territory of the Bolharka district on March 2. One of the bridges was a railway bridge over the Southern Bug River, built in 1912. It was blown up during World War II and rebuilt in 1939. After russia's attack on Voznesensk, the bridge was blown up again on March 2, 2022.

“We broke their tactics when the UAF blew up three bridges in our city. Of course, I feel sorry for the infrastructure of these bridges, but when I talked to the commanders, they said it was a tactical need, it should be done. Why do you need a railway bridge? It was explained to me that the reason for retreating from Kherson here closer to Voznesensk was the railway bridge through which the enemy column passed. They did not wait and did not understand, and the column hit them. And we (the Armed Forces) retreated. This was a lesson, and now we are paying attention to it. When the shelling began, we blew up the bridge, and a tank was already standing directly in front of the bridge (from the side of the Bolharka district). This was the first and last battle for today. March 3-4 the cleaning was held, but on March 18, 6 cruise missiles flew at us. To say that the enemy is now 150 kilometers from the city of Voznesensk – it does not give a sense of calm. They seem to be at a distance, but no one canceled the missile strikes,” Voznesensk Mayor Yevhen Velychko said.

According to his words, when the bridge was blown up, the russians began to occupy positions directly in the territories of yards and households. After realizing that the UAF would not cover them, they began working with a large-caliber mortar in the center of Voznesensk. The swimming pool, the entrance to the kindergarten, the entrance to the residential yards and the territory of the boarding school were damaged. There was just chaotic mortar fire throughout the city,” said the mayor of Voznesensk.

The day before the approach to the city, the UAF artillery destroyed two enemy columns. Only one arrived - the Coast Guard Brigade from the Crimea.

During the battles for Voznesensk, the combined reinforced unit was commanded by Volodymyr Ratushnyak, the deputy commander of the assault unit of the 80th Separate Assault Brigade. The fighters had a task to prevent the enemy from surrounding the city. Volodymyr Ratushnyak organized cooperation with the artillery, and also set up a system of notification of the movement of enemy forces through the local residents.

On March 2, he discovered two enemy artillery divisions, including the howitzer artillery and the missile artillery of the 126th separate brigade of the russian Black Sea Fleet's coastal defense. The divisions opened fire on Voznesensk but were almost immediately suppressed by retaliatory fire. And the UAF and the Territorial Defense seized trophy equipment. On the same day, a car with ammunition, a command, and staff vehicle, two missile systems “Grad” and up to 30 occupants were destroyed.

Later, under the leadership of Captain Volodymyr Ratushnyak, the enemy's assault columns were successfully struck, tank attacks were repulsed, as a result of which the enemy suffered significant losses in manpower and equipment.