Novoazovsk

Novoazovsk (Новоазовськ) Novoazovsk (Новоазовск)
City
Main square of Novoazovsk
Coat of arms
Novoazovsk (Новоазовськ) Location of Novoazovsk in Europe
Coordinates: 47°6′53″N 38°4′48″E / 47.11472°N 38.08000°E / 47.11472; 38.08000
Country	Donetsk People's Republic (in effective control)  Ukraine (claimed as integral part of its Donetsk Oblast)
Government
• Mayor	Oleg Sidorenko
Area
• Total	8 km2 (3 sq mi)
Elevation	21 m (69 ft)
Population (2013)
• Total	11,760
• Density	1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
Climate	Dfa

Novoazovsk (Ukrainian: Новоазовськ, Russian: Новоазовск) is a border town on the south-eastern tip of Ukraine (bordering Russia), it is the administrative center of the Novoazovsk Raion (district), in Donetsk Oblast (province). Population: 11,760 (2013 est.); 12,702 (2001).

Novoazovsk and adjacent areas are the only places in Ukraine where the great black-headed gull (Larus ichthyaetus) lives.

Starting Mid-April 2014 pro-Russian separatists captured several towns in Donetsk Oblast; including Novoazovsk. In June 2014 Ukrainian forces reportedly secured the city from the pro-Russian separatists. The situation around the town then became relatively quiet. On 25 August 2014, Ukraine claimed that Russian soldiers disguised as pro-Russian separatists had opened a new front in the War in Donbass with an offensive against Mariupol. Ukraine claimed it had blocked this offensive near Novoazovsk. Fighting in the area continued on 26 August 2014. According to a Ukrainian Dnipro Battalion commander, Novoazovsk was over run by Russian tanks and became under control of the Russians on 27 August. This was confirmed by Ukrainian authorities the next day. On the other hand, pro-Russian separatists leaders on the same day claimed that the town was taken by separatist forces as part of an offensive against Mariupol.