August 18-19, as a result of a two-directional envelopment of pro-Russian mercenaries by the police battalion "Dnipro" and the 3rd Battalion of the National Guard "Donbas", supported by army units of the 17th Kryvyi Rih Armored Brigade, 51st Volyn and 93rd Dnipropetrovsk Mechanized Brigades, a big part Ilovaisk was liberated. Aug. 19, Russian forces counterattacked, using artillery and multiple rocket launchers.
Aug. 21, Ukrainian forces were reinforced with heavy equipment. Aug. 22, terrorists were joined by Russia's regular army. In the morning of Aug. 24, Donbas fighters and combined motorized infantry company of the 17th and 93rd brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed four enemy firing points and more than fifty militants. Aug. 25, Ukrainian military captured an airborne assault vehicle with 10 Russian paratroopers, who gave testimonies further on.
Aug. 29, Ukrainian battalions tried to break out of the encirclement, were ambushed, and had to return to their original positions. In the morning of Aug. 30, Donbas battalion commander Semenchenko said he had talked to the president of Ukraine, and was informed about a corridor, agreed at a high level, which would be open until 10 a.m. for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the encirclement with arms and flags. Those captured had to be exchanged for Russian paratroopers. However, Ukrainian troops got under direct fire of Russian military.
The Chief Military Prosecutor Anatolii Matios published a full list of killed and unidentified as a result of the Ilovaisk tragedy occurred during Aug. 12 to 29, 2014. The list includes 366 people.
A number of commemorating events is planned for today in Kyiv, including:
1 p.m. - opening of the memorial "People's Wall of Memory." Dedication to the Ilovaisk encirclement. Organizers: charitable foundation "People's Wall of Memory", NGO "Druzhyna Ukrainy," pan-Ukrainian public movement "Liberation." Organizers' briefing dedicated to different challenges in their work, especially the problems with identifying and collecting information about the dead heroes. They will also dwell on their achievements and future plans. Invited: Deputy Defense Minister Petro Mekhed, Kyiv's mayor Vitalii Klitschko, Head of the Interior Ministry Department in Kyiv Oleksandr Tereshchuk, head of the foundation "People's Wall of Memory" Roman Fedchuk, deputy chairman of the NGO "Druzhyna Ukrainy" Yulia Yevdokymova.
Noon - Prayer for health of alive Heroes and all conscious patriots. Near the Saint Volodymyr Monument at Saint Volodymyr Hill.
2:30 p.m. - Round table to be attended by representatives of religious confessions and volunteers devoted to spiritual support of Ukraine's people and Defenders of the Motherland, 2 Khreshchatyk Street, Ukrainian House convention center.
3 p.m. - Awarding of patriots of Ukraine with commemorative medals.
4 p.m. - Solemn procession in honor of the Heroes of Ukraine from European Square to Instytutska Street.
5 p.m. - Memorial service for deceased patriots of Ukraine, corner of Instytutska Street and Khreshchatyk Street.
6 p.m. - End of the ceremony with a procession up Instytutska Street accompanied by the Rays of Dignity.