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| 'This is hell!' Syrsky threw Ukrainian 3rd Separate Assault Brigade (formerly Azov) to break through Avdievka encirclement |
| 2024-02-16 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Sergey Adamov [REGNUM] The Russian offensive operation in Avdeevka is gradually approaching its goal: the complete liberation of the northern satellite city of Donetsk. Over the past seven years, this area remained the main outpost of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, from whose territory the enemy constantly fired at the capital of the DPR. In recent months, Russian troops have successively destroyed a series of fortified areas created by the Ukrainian army over many years. By mid-February, the attackers managed to complete a number of important tasks in this direction. Avdeevka was cut off from supplies from the north, and in the south, Russian troops captured the key fortified area “Tsarskaya Okhota” and entered the urban area. However, the main strategic success was achieved over the last week, when it was possible to cut through two main enemy defense centers: Avdeevka itself and the territory of the Avdeevka Coke and Chemical Plant (AKHZ). The successful actions of the Russian troops were confirmed by the Regnum news agency source, operating in the ranks of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps. According to his information, the advancing units managed to penetrate the enemy’s defenses quite deeply. “Actually, the decisive events occurred at the beginning of the week, while there was a shift change at the headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result, the attacking forces wedged themselves between Avdeevka and Koksokhim, passed through the dacha sector and actually cut the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ defense in two,” our source notes. In an effort to stop the consequences of the breakthrough of Russian troops, the Ukrainian command transferred reserves to Avdeevka: the notorious 3rd Special Assault Brigade, created on the basis of the neo-Nazi Azov movement (*recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia). However, arriving reinforcements were forced to note the “extremely critical situation” at the front. Azov commander Andrei Biletsky described the situation as hell, in which his troops have to fight 360 degrees at once. It is noteworthy that the brigade is staffed primarily by volunteers who adhere to radical ideology. The unit was well trained and equipped, but for the time being remained in reserve. The very fact that Kiev decided to throw the 3rd Brigade into battle speaks of the seriousness of their intentions to change the situation in Avdievka in their favor at any cost. After the successful offensive of the Russian troops, the contours of the emerging enemy encirclement began to appear more and more clearly. On the southern front of the offensive, the ring is ready to close around the last powerful fortified areas of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, known as “Zenit” and “Cheburashka” - in the area of the former air defense unit and the road junction through the Donetsk ring road. And with the penetration of Russian troops into the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces between Avdeevka and AKHZ, all enemy forces remaining in the urban area were under the threat of encirclement. “SUPPLY IS ALMOST CUT OFF” It is noteworthy that Ukrainian sources (mainly bloggers who have direct contact with the military) do not seek to embellish the state of affairs, and in the current situation they primarily blame the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for unnecessary delay. Firstly, the critical condition of the 110th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which occupied positions directly in Avdiivka itself, is indicated. The decision to withdraw the brigade units was made too late, when Russian troops had already launched an offensive on the northern front of the Avdeevka theater of military operations. Secondly, the Azov brigade* sent to save the situation was brought into battle too late and was unable to occupy the previously abandoned positions in time. According to the latest data, Russian troops were able to cut Industrial Avenue, in fact the main transport artery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces between Avdiivka and AKHZ. The road between Avdiivka and the village of Lastochkino, the main supply route for Ukrainian troops in the city, was also cut. Thus, the supply of the enemy’s Avdeevsk group is now carried out through a narrow “throat” between the settlements of Lastochkino and Severnoye. In this area there are several dirt roads along which the enemy can supply the Avdeevka garrison. Earlier, the speaker of the Ukrainian Tavria command, Dmitry Likhovoy, said that a “reserve logistics artery” was used in Avdiivka. Most likely, we are talking specifically about the reserve dirt road, on which the group’s supplies now rest. At the same time, as Regnum news agency sources note on the ground, any movements towards Avdeevka and from the city are monitored by Russian troops, and the “logistics artery” is shot at along its entire length. “A thaw recently began in our area. Therefore, the entire corridor through which the Ukrainian Armed Forces can still supply their forces in Avdiivka is an impassable swamp through which large equipment cannot pass. But it is not possible to supply an entire group of troops along two or three dirt roads,” the agency’s interlocutor reports. The situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces becomes almost hopeless: after the units of the Russian army advancing from the north and south finally meet, the enemy forces remaining in the urban area will be completely surrounded. "MANIC DESIRE TO DEFEND" In the current situation, the Ukrainian command faces two options: bad and very bad. Either it is necessary to withdraw the remaining troops from the city, or waste energy on trying to prevent a final encirclement, but in the end get it and face a repeat of the history of Azovstal. According to Ukrainian sources, the former commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny insisted on the first option, who proposed withdrawing troops to pre-prepared defense lines. At the same time, the political leadership of Ukraine was and is categorically against the surrender of the city, even despite the prevailing front-line situation. The surrender of the city will be extremely negatively perceived by Ukrainian society, especially against the background of a series of recent failures of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. For this reason, in particular, Vladimir Zelensky decided to change the commander, essentially exposing the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Alexander Syrsky, to attack. Syrsky is already facing criticism from the “patriotic public”, whose favorite was his predecessor. The new commander-in-chief is criticized for not trying to organize a counterattack from outside the emerging pocket, but instead began to transfer troops into potential encirclement. However, it is most likely that the reserves were used only to ensure that the retreat from the city did not turn into a disorderly flight. “The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has a manic desire to organize heroic defenses in the environment, even when there is an opportunity to retreat. I think that now they will not jump on the same rake and will try to exit as organized as possible. Well, our task is to destroy them, if possible, during this withdrawal,” sums up the interlocutor of our agency. The last supply route for the Avdeevka garrison passes through the 9th microdistrict (also known as the “ninth quarter”) in the western part of the city. And, as experts on both sides of the front admit, with its loss it will be possible to talk about the encirclement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It is worth noting that the command of the Russian group is well aware of the strategic importance of this area. The “Ninth Quarter” is under constant shelling and attacks from aerospace forces, which destroy enemy fortified areas. In the current hopeless situation, we can expect that the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will ultimately decide to retreat from the city. |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #4 Shells from South Korea spent. Cluster munitions offered next. Obviously Ukrainian drones nowhere in Avdievka. Western news provided at least two days late. Avdievka having been built up by NATO over ten years. Now falling fast. Russian forcible attrition an effective meat grinder operation. Panic in Avdievka panic and disorganized. The USA alibi securing 60 some millions will do nothing. Z has run away to Germany. EU is trapped. They have nothing so must stay with the USA. Ukraine is a wright off. Let the western medias spin this story. |
| Posted by: Dale 2024-02-16 12:31 |
| #3 ^Azov Brigade |
| Posted by: Grom the Reflective 2024-02-16 10:13 |
| #2 This unit was considered particularly loyal to the recently departed army commander. Thinning its ranks by assigning it this mission kills multiple birds with one stone - and provides an example to other units |
| Posted by: Slenter Panda4300 2024-02-16 06:20 |
| #1 I doubt anyone, including the most "pro-Ukrainian" (anti-Russian) westerners, will feel sorry for Azov "fighters". |
| Posted by: Grom the Reflective 2024-02-16 01:08 |