Commentary by Russian blogger Donetsk.
[DonRF] Yesterday the third large-scale offensive against Avdiivka began. It started off promising. More than. And successfully. Although it’s too early to shout hurray and throw caps into the air. Because the second one also started in the same way, and then some of the recaptured positions were lost. Nevertheless, there are a lot of positives in the beginning of the battle... And serious positives. From strategy to tactics. From planning to implementation in practice. From preparation to a minimum of mischief. In order:
1. The operation was launched against the backdrop of offensive actions in the Zaporozhye and Kupyansk directions launched earlier.
2. Started at a time when the enemy is actively fighting for Artemovsk and wasting resources on the Zaporozhye front to hold positions there
3. At a time of political crisis in Israel, when part of the flow of shells and missiles was redirected there.
4. When the enemy is maximally exhausted
5. Surprise has been achieved on many points at once
6. This is the transfer of reserves, carried out unnoticed by the enemy with all NATO satellites and RER
7. And the withdrawal of troops to the starting points
8. And the power of the first artillery strike that shocked the enemy.
9. Restrained reaction of the majority of media and TG channels of a military orientation
At the same time, there is still something to work on:
1. The enemy’s artillery is not completely crushed
2. The collapse of the front did not occur
3. The operation, if there is no success today or tomorrow, risks becoming protracted, which for like death
In general, we saw a completely different war. With powerful artillery strikes in a short time, with assault groups, with a higher level of military intelligence and clear planning. And most importantly - with real goals. Because the goal is not to capture a city like Artemovsk, but to bypass it from the flanks and cut off logistics. Which is already painful for the enemy. Because there won’t be a second Mariupol if it’s successful. There will be a second Gaza Strip.
Although success still needs to be achieved. True, in part there is already something to brag about - the supply of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been taken under fire control. A breakthrough was achieved on the first day. But...all this needs to be held and moved on. Until they transferred reserves and reinforced artillery groups in this direction. It's two or three days from today. They have reserves. But now their transfer is hampered by the work of our troops along the railway. And by demolishing the Ocheretino station, time was won for the infantry.
In any case, the first offensive after the summer began successfully. And God grant that it develops this way, without resulting in a frontal assault on the city of Avdeevka or a transition to the defensive. The army is growing up. The army is learning. And the army fights. God is with us, and on the other side, as they themselves declare, there is only the Unclean One. And Donetsk is waiting. Waiting for safety and peaceful skies. But in any case, another step in the development of military art of the RF Armed Forces has been taken. Then everything depends on the bookmaker and reserves.