Bakhmutka

The Bakhmutka (Ukrainian: Бахмутка) is a river in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. It is a right tributary of the Siverskyi Donets.^[1] It is also known as the Bakhmut (Ukrainian: Бахмут)^[2][1] or the Bakhmutovka.^[3][4]

Bakhmutka
Footbridge over the Bakhmutka at Siversk
Native name	Бахмутка (Ukrainian)
Location
Country	Ukraine
Oblast	Donetsk Oblast
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	near Horlivka
• coordinates	48°21′14″N 38°03′57″E
Mouth
• location	Siverskyi Donets
• coordinates	48°55′33″N 38°02′22″E
Length	86 km (53 mi)
Basin size	1,680 km2 (650 sq mi)
Basin features
River system	Don

Geography

The length is 86 kilometres (53 mi) and the drainage basin area is 1,680 square kilometres (650 sq mi). It thaws in early March and freezes in December. The water is partially used for technical needs and for irrigation.^[1]

The Bakhmutka has several tributaries:^[5]

• Kamianka [uk]
• Mokra Plotva [uk]
• Serednia Stupka [uk]
• Sukha [uk]
• Sukha Plotva [uk]
• Vasiukivka [uk]
• Velyka Stupka [uk]
• Yama [uk]

The river flows through the city of Bakhmut.^[6] Siversk is also located on the Bakhmutka.^{[citation needed]}

History

In 1571, fortresses were built on the Bakhmutka, which served as protection of the southern border of the Tsardom of Russia with the Crimean Khanate.^[1]

In 2023, the Bakhmutka again served as a barrier between opposing forces during the battle of Bakhmut of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, after Ukrainian forces withdrew from all parts of Bakhmut east of the river in March 2023.^[7][8] On 7 April, Russian forces reportedly crossed the river and captured the west bank, threatening Ukrainian supply lines.^[9]

References

1. Гавриленко, С. М. (2003-02-01). "Бахмут". Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Vol. 2. Інститут енциклопедичних досліджень НАН України. ISBN 978-966-02-2074-4.
2. Shvets, Drozd & Lebchenko (1957, p. 147)
3. Shao, Elena; Hernandez, Marco (9 March 2023). "Satellite images show widespread destruction after heavy fighting in Bakhmut". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 May 2023. One image, taken on Monday by Maxar Technologies, shows that bridges across the Bakhmutovka River have been destroyed.
4. "At Ukraine front, embattled Bakhmut residents desperate for water". France 24. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023. But when it became too dangerous to reach the well in their eastern neighbourhood, which has seen some of the worst fighting, they finally undertook the treacherous journey across the Bakhmutovka river to flee the besieged city.
5. Shvets, Drozd & Lebchenko (1957, p. 148)
6. Dilkoff, Dimitar (21 May 2023). "Bakhmut: From 'City Of Wine And Roses' To 'Hell On Earth'". Retrieved 27 May 2023.
7. "У що перетворилася річка Бахмутка: Жданов пояснив, які ще є можливості у росіян" (in Ukrainian). 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
8. "Річка Бахмутка стала лінією фронту в боях за Бахмут, – британська розвідка" (in Ukrainian). 2023-03-11. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
9. "Russia seizes Bakhmutka River's west bank, says UK defence ministry". Reuters. 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-11-27.

Bibliography

Shvets, H.I.; Drozd, N.I.; Lebchenko, S.P. (1957). Каталог річок України [Catalog of the rivers of Ukraine] (PDF). Kyiv: Academy of Science of the Ukrainian SSR. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-21.