"Firestorm" hits Avdiivka, Ukraine braces for Russian attack

Ukrainian tanks move on the road outside Avdiivka, Donetsk region (Photo: AFP).

On November 22, Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the ground near the city of Avdiivka shared on social media that they had a strange feeling witnessing the moment when Russia regrouped its forces, a relatively calm period before the storm.

By the morning of November 23, the storm had arrived: a massive attack known as the “third wave,” with Russian infantry pouring into Ukrainian fire lines, platoon after platoon.

"The fields are littered with bodies. They are trying to wear down our lines with constant attacks," "Oleksandr", a Ukrainian deputy battalion commander of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, told AFP .

Ukrainian forces responded to Russian attacks with artillery, mortars, grenades, drones and shells fired from Bradley fighting vehicles.

Ukrainian Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavski gave some perspective on the numbers in a Telegram post on the afternoon of November 23.

"The enemy's losses in manpower and armored vehicles are increasing, including 8 destroyed tanks, the total loss of manpower is more than 700 people. In the Tavria Air Defense Force's operational area, the enemy carried out 11 airstrikes, 56 battles and fired 973 artillery shells," General Tarnavski said.

"Our defenders are firmly defending in the direction of Avdiivka," the Ukrainian general said.

Avdiivka city in eastern Ukraine (Photo: BBC).

General Tarnavski confirmed that 51 units of Russian military equipment were destroyed, including 8 tanks, 13 anti-aircraft guns, 8 artillery systems, 2 air defense vehicles, 15 anti-aircraft missiles, 5 vehicles. 2 ammunition depots and 4 important facilities of Russia were also destroyed, while 44 other vehicles were damaged.

Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesman for the Tavria Forces, said there were about 40,000 Russian troops operating in the Avdiivka area.

According to a soldier interviewed from the battlefield, Russia dug tunnels to reach Ukrainian positions, even planting mines behind them.

Avdiivka is currently one of the hottest fronts in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Avdiivka is considered a strategic city, the gateway to Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Before the conflict, the city had a population of about 32,000, but now only about 1,500 remain.

For over a month now, Avdiivka has been the target of fierce Russian attacks, which are seen as part of Russia’s strategy to push deeper into Ukraine’s stronghold in the East.

Military expert Vladyslav Seleznov said that Russia has recently taken control of the highways connecting Avdiivka with neighboring areas, while narrowing the gap between the north and south pincers. If Moscow were to capture Orlivka in the north and the villages of Tonenke and Sieverne in the south, Ukraine's defense line would be in a critical situation.

Reserve Forces Major Oleksii Hetman explained that Russia is trying to surround Avdiivka and cut off reinforcements to Ukrainian forces.

"Russia did not attack directly but chose to isolate Avdiivka. This will gradually deplete the water, food and medical supplies for the wounded here," Mr. Hetman said.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/bao-lua-ap-den-avdiivka-ukraine-cang-minh-truoc-song-tien-cong-cua-nga-20231124080821682.htm