Preceding the battle, Russian forces bombarded the city with artillery on 24 February, allegedly injuring 26 people.[1] On the morning of 25 February, Russian forces advanced towards Mariupol from DPR territory in the east, meeting the Ukrainians in battle near the village of Pavlopil.[2] The Ukrainians defeated the Russian forces, supposedly destroying 22 Russian tanks, according to the mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boychenko [uk].[3][4]