Start of anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine announced five years ago

On April 12, 2014, pro-Russian militants, led by the officers of the Russian special services, seized the buildings of the government agencies in Donetsk, Horlivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka and Slovyansk. The special forces units of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine were sent to Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.

On the morning of April 13, 2014, the Alfa special forces unit of the Security Service of Ukraine and the leadership of the Donetsk regional police carried out reconnaissance in Slovyansk suburbs. They stopped in Semenivka village to talk with local residents. At that time, the Ukrainian special forces were attacked by armed men. Hennadiy Bilichenko, Captain of the Alfa special forces unit of the Security Service of Ukraine, was killed in that battle.

As it turned out later, the terrorists drove up and opened fire from assault rifles on the cars of Ukrainian officers. At the same time, another group of Russian saboteurs opened fire on Ukrainians from a forest plantation nearby.

Captain Bilichenko was the first to enter the battle. He was wounded, but he continued to shoot back, covering his brothers-in-arms. Soon, the Captain died from numerous wounds. Alfa commander, Colonel Hennadiy Kuznetsov, Security Service Colonel Oleksandr Kuksa, Alfa Lieutenant Colonel Andriy Dubovyk were wounded in the battle.

The paratroopers of the 3rd company of the 80th airmobile brigade, who were stationed nearby, came to the special forces’ assistance. The servicemen received an order not to open fire, but company commander Vadym Sukharevsky entered the battle, taking the gunner’s place in an armoured personnel carrier. In the end, machine-gun fire managed to suppress the enemy shooting. Russian saboteurs retreated quickly.

On the evening of April 13, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine held an emergency meeting and decided to start the anti-terrorist operation. A demand was put forward that the militants should lay down their arms until 9:00 am on April 14. That did not happen. On April 14, the then Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and Acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov signed a decree on the enactment of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council “On Urgent Measures to Overcome Terrorist Threat and Preserve the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine” thereby announcing the start of the anti-terrorist operation with the involvement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

ol