Ilovaisk is a city in Donetsk Raion, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine; residence of Ilovaisk urban hromada. The city is de facto under the military occupation of Russia and administered by the Donetsk People's Republic. The city is known as a major regional railroad hub. It was also the site of a battle in the War in Donbas. The city has a population of, 17,620 (2001).

Battle of Ilovaisk

Starting in mid-April 2014, Russian paramilitaries captured several towns in Donetsk Oblast, including Ilovaisk. On 19 August 2014, Ukrainian forces reportedly secured the city centre from the Russia-backed militants; fighting for control of other parts of the town continued. The next morning they claimed they had control over one half of the town, with the town divided by a railroad line. On 21 August, the Ukrainian Armed Forces claimed that heavy fighting continued "in some districts of Ilovaisk", while the Russia-backed forces claimed they had repelled the Ukrainian military and surrounded a contingent of Ukrainian troops. Fighting for control of the town continued over the next days. The Russian Armed Forces retook the city as of 1 September 2014.

Demographics

Ethnic composition according to the 2001 Ukrainian census. Native language as of the Ukrainian Census of 2001:

Notable people