Battle for Avdeevka. Chronology, view from the inside and results

On February 17, the Commander -in -Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, decided to withdraw troops from Avdeevka to "more profitable positions."

The next day, the speaker of the operational and strategic group of troops "Tavria" Dmitry Likhovo said that the withdrawal of the troops was completed. He noted that the retreat took place in difficult conditions, and the "some of the" Ukrainian military personnel at the exit was captured.

Some experts and military personnel criticized the Ukrainian military leadership for the late withdrawal of troops, when Russian troops already came close to the supply lines of the Ukrainian army and seized some important strongholds and regions of the city, and the Ukrainian group of troops within Avdeevka faced the lack of ammunition and artillery support. There were reports of executions by the advancing Russian troops of Ukrainian prisoners "stuck" in advanced positions.

“What is happening in Avdeevka is horror. I am not a participant in the fighting in the area, but I used to have a similar experience. The command is reputedly made by year ago, they will not teach them anything. They will find excuses, because no one has ever been punished from the highest leadership.

As a result, several more strong brigades will be erased about the next “symbol of unbending”. Then, at the last moment, the survivors will be withdrawn - this will be nobly to be saved by personnel.

This is all so much [tired]. We are losing time, resource and most importantly-the best fighters, ”the military personnel of the 93rd Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Evgeny“ Stus ”Cherepnya wrote on February 16 on February 16 on February 16. Later he praised the decision of the highest military leadership to withdraw troops from Avdeevka.

Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umarov (left) and chief of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces (second on the left) in the east of Ukraine. February 14, 2024

The doubts of Ukrainian military personnel also caused a statement to the command that the Avdeevsky group was moving back to "pre -prepared borders." They suggest that in fact they are not ready and, as a result, they will have to equip them with the Ukrainian military who departed from the city.

Chronology of battles

Avdeevka is an industrial city with an area of 29 square kilometers near Donetsk, which the pro -Russian separatists could not capture since 2014.

This small settlement was an important link in the logistics and defensive chain of the Ukrainian army: it contains many powerful fortified and fortifications. With the beginning of a full -scale invasion, the Russian army carried out offensive operations in the Avdeevsky direction, but the active assaults of the city began in October 2023.

According to the Ukrainian command, the general grouping of the troops of the Russian army in the Avdeevsky direction then amounted to 40 thousand troops. In the first month of the active offensive, Russian troops, according to Kyiv, suffered huge losses - about 10 thousand people. There is no independent confirmation of this information, but many videos with burned columns of Russian technology were distributed in social networks.

Igor Krivoruchko , a soldier of the 26th battalion of the 47th separate mechanized brigade of the Magura Armed Forces, who took part in the defense of the village of Stepovoy and Berdichi in the north-west of Avdeevka, told Radio Liberty how the tactics of the Russian army changed during the battles for Avdeevka. His unit arrived there in October 2023.

“We were actually sent to unprepared positions, and we had to dig into hauling, so the Russians quickly“ threw up ”with a long-range artillery, using a great advantage in ammunition. After that, a huge number of FPV lane, as well as drones that dumped ammunition. They also had a quantitative advantage. The trenches of the electronic struggle.

Ukrainian servicemen on its front site began to adapt to the current conditions and built a line of defense. They also had antronx rifles and trench agents of the electronic warfare. Gradually, says Krivoruchko, the advance of the Russian army has gained the usual form: in order to take any position, the army of the Russian Federation had to enter into direct fire contact with the Ukrainian forces.

After that, the Russians again changed the tactics: the assault group approached the most close distance to the Ukrainian units, after which it was fixed, waited for reinforcements and again proceeded to assault actions. Now, according to a soldier of the 47th brigade, the Russian army is increasingly using corrected controlled bombs in its attacks: several dozen per day. “One of the bombs recently hit the Koksochemical Plant near Avdeevka and not far from Stepovaya. As a result, the tank with resin caught fire and all the smoke went to our positions. There was no visibility, the air is heavy,” he recalls.

Krivoruchko notes that in his direction, Ukrainian forces did not experience the lack of ammunition.

“There were enough rifle weapons and grenades. We also did not feel shell hunger. From our rear, where we leave for rest, artillery also constantly worked when the Russians gathered people and prepared operations.

A large section of the front was closed at all without the help of artillery by American armored vehicles M2 Bradley. They are still working, the lack of ammunition is also not felt for them. I think that in the future, perhaps we will face a lack, but now this is not, ”the fighter said.

At the end of November, Ukrainian troops almost completely lost the industrial zone in the south of the city and moved to the private sector area. All of December the Russian army advanced on Avdeevka from four directions.

Russian sappers in Avdeevka. 19 February 2024

In January, the army of the Russian Federation managed to significantly advance in the north and approach the village of Stepovaya in the north-west of Avdeevka. As of February 20, part of the village is under the control of the Russian army, another part is in the gray zone, and the outskirts of the village remain under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In addition to promotion in the north, the Russian army conducted a successful assault on the Ukrainian fortified is the Tsarskoye Hunting - the former camp site. A group of 150 Russian fighters, with the support of artillery, made his way to the rear of the Ukrainian units on the cast -iron underground pipe of the drainage system and cleaned the sector.

The battles reached their interchange by mid -February. On February 13, the Russian army managed to cut the industrial avenue - the main route in Avdeevka, which connects the city with the Coksochemical Plant in the north and also leads to the west. Around the same time, the Ukrainian third separate assault brigade, which is called one of the most combat -ready divisions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was thrown into the city.

"Koksochim", January 2024

The press officer of this brigade Alexander Borodin told the Ukrainian Radio Liberty service that the balance of power in Avdeevka is one to seven in favor of the Russian army. “There are two armies against us. The situation is critical. We fulfill the task, carry out the set order. But such a ratio ... Given that these are linear brigades mechanized ... If we compare with the bahmut, on the defense of which we were also, there were“ Wagnerians ”, for example, that is, there was still a mixture of prisoners and“ specialses ”and there are linear mechanized brigades of the Russian Federation and there was a mixture of the Russian Federation. Specialists from the GRU.

"They understood that a disco would begin." Conclusion of Ukrainian troops

On February 15, Russian publics said that the Russian Army managed to capture the powerful Zenit fortified area in the south of the city - a former air defense base with many underground tunnels, bunkers and other defensive fortifications. Zenit remained under the supervision of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and wedged on the offensive of the Russian army, constraining its actions, despite the fact that he was almost in full environment.

Ukrainian soldier near Avdeevka. January 2024

The Ukrainian soldier of the 110th separate mechanized brigade Viktor Belyak spoke on his Instagram about the last days of Zenit defense. He wrote that the military made two attempts to withdraw from the encirclement. The first ten fighters tried to leave Zenit on the night of February 14. The group joined the close battle with Russian units, while the artillery was already brought to breaking up Ukrainian military. Only three wounded returned back. As a result of the evacuation of one of them, four more military personnel were injured, including Belyak himself.

The next night, new groups formed and again went towards the main forces. Belyak recalls that they were promised armored vehicles for evacuation. "A kilometer around the field, enemy artillery. The road to Avdeevka is strewn with our corpses. I did not stay to wait for the evacuation. I headed the group and went into the unknown. They covered it. [Lost] The group. But in the end resulting in a point.

And if the first groups died, faced with the enemy, then the next led a little bypassing. This allowed those who were lucky to go out. The evacuation did not come. The last group left the bunker. But this dialogue by the radio wound us in the very heart. Wounded: "What, there will be no evacence?" Commander: "No, it will not, leave three hundred and blurt out everything." He did not know what he was saying with the wounded. At least six people are left, ”the surviving fighter wrote.

Later, a video shot by Russian troops on the territory of Zenit appeared on the Web: on it there are five dead Ukrainian military personnel in the water. In social networks, a list of seriously wounded fighters left in the territory of the fortified area was also published . Relatives recognized several of them by the video. The Ukrainian command accused the Russian army of shooting the wounded and unarmed fighters.

The 110th brigade said that they had agreements with the Russian side on the evacuation of the wounded. The Russian command allegedly promised to save the lives of military personnel and subsequently exchange them. “Russian terrorists have not fulfilled a promise,” it was said.

The Russian army advanced and captured the fortified are the “Cheburashka” and “Vineyards-2”. The last 9th quarter and the Koksochemical Plant fell the last-an industrial complex north of Avdeevka, which, as Ukrainian troops noted , could become a new "Azovstal", since it would be very difficult to storm this plant and, possibly, pointless. " They suggested that the Russian army would try to surround the plant in order to avoid direct clashes. Based on the open data, the army of the Russian Federation succeeded. The plant was practically cut off from logistics, and the Ukrainian military left the territory of the "Coksokhim".

Military expert Vladislav Seleznev notes that the conduct of defensive battles in Avdeevka, where there are “coke” and other structures made of steel and concrete, are quite convenient, but only if logistics is established. He recalled the experience of the battles for Azovstal.

Ukrainian soldier Andrei (the name changed) defended the territory of the Koksochemical Plant for several days and left its territory on February 15, and the last forces of the Ukrainian troops, according to him, left the Coksokhim the next day.

In the early days, when a group of Ukrainian troops, including our interlocutor, ended up in the plant, they managed to hold several successful assaults due to the fact that the Russian infantry in this area "went on a relaxation, because before that I had not met such a rebuff." After that, the Russian army began to use controlled air bombs in the "unprecedented directions" of quantities.

"The guys beat off the rolls of meat infantry assaults. In rifle battles, our fighters worked much more efficiently, but the enemy realized that they could not pass. They rolled away and defeated positions with artillery and carpal, and so on the constantly.

On February 14, we burned a whole column of equipment, and the very next day, just such a column moved - around 30 units. They constantly keep the reserve of infantry and technology. No matter how much you break them, new ones come all the time, ”said the fighter.

In the last days of the Coksokhim defense, according to the interlocutor, his unit has experienced problems with logistics: the road to the plant was shot by the enemy.

He notes that it was impractical to hold the plant due to the constant operation of aviation. "If it could be kept under artillery, then there was no way with aviation. They take off if the buildings are just crumbling. I was in position, and two hundred meters from me the cab fell, the wall next to me just collapsed. There were six bombs for half an hour on us. Yes, there were basements and buildings, but some basements were flooded. We would not be suitable. We would not be suitable. Surrounded, and there it is already simply to keep it while there is a BC ... "

Koksochemical Plant, February 19, 2024

Both Russian and Ukrainian publics wrote that the withdrawal of troops from Avdeevka was inorganized, as a result of which part of the Ukrainian military died or was captured. Russian "military commissars" published several videos, on which, presumably, groups of Ukrainian military retreating along a clean field or leaning roads, after which they are covered with fire.

A soldier of the 47th brigade Igor Krivoruchko, who did not directly participate in the operation to withdraw troops from Avdeevka, but heard negotiations of Ukrainian radio units, also shared his opinion about the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops:

“As far as I understand, he is lined up in a similar way that the rotation in positions. Very often it happens that one group of soldiers who tries to enter the positions, but they are covered by enemy artillery. Or soldiers who go from positions to the evacuation point can also fall under the fire of artillery or FPV. This risk is always present, and it is quite high.

Therefore, most likely, the conclusion was organized according to the same procedure. The only thing that this waste was more massive, and therefore it took place with mass support of our artillery. By what I heard through the connection in positions, our artillery covered the withdrawal. I do not know the details of the operation, but from the excerpts of the video that I saw on the Internet, and because I myself heard in positions, the artillery covered it quite densely and efficiently, ”Krivoruchko believes.

Vladislav Seleznev said that the withdrawal of troops always takes a certain time. "The essence of the rearguard battles lies in the fact that when the main forces go to new borders and positions, the rearguards are fighting and holding back the enemy onslaught. It is not entirely clear how the troops were withdrawn, if there were, from the 9th microdistrict and" coke-chemum ", since the field roads north of the 9th quarter were impending the positions of the occupation troops. There are many, but I completely clearly understand that the units conducted by rearguard battles are always in incredible conditions, almost surrounded, because the enemy at that moment even more actively presses.

According to the statements of the Khortitsa Drezvs command, for today the forces have been withdrawn from there, but I’m not sure that one hundred percent of the Ukrainian troops were able to get out of these battles without loss, because the amount of manpower and enemy means on this section of the front is simply amazing: the absolute advantage in the air and the ability to advance around the clock.

But, in my opinion, General Tarnavsky and General Syrsky made the most correct decision when they attracted the maximum number of resources, including fighters of the third assault brigade in order to safely withdraw Avdeevka’s defenders, ”Seleznev believes.

Avdeevka, August 2023

The soldier Andrei called the exit from the territory of the "Koksokhim" very difficult. "On February 15, we received the team to leave. We understood that in the evening, everything would begin to leave and the disco will begin in the darkness. We decided to go in the light. The 120th mortar and contusion covered us. On the path we decided to go, there were practically no more or less suitable shelters and buildings, only brick booths approximately every 300 meters. It was very much with full equipment. It was hard to cover us with one of the shelters to move away from the door, we flew back on it again.

The Russians still hit the territory of the "Koksokhim", and a tank caught fire with fuel and lubricants. Black smoke fell. We moved in this smoke so that the drones did not "see" us. Then we got into the landing and got out, ”the fighter said. Most likely, the military personnel of the 47th brigade Igor Krivoruchko told about the same hit on the tank.

"Something is the wrong scale and quality." Pre -prepared positions in advance (not)?

Владислав Селезнёв отмечает, что трудно понять, было ли позднее решение об отводе войск из Авдеевки вызвано политической целесообразностью – создать ореол города-крепости – или же неготовностью инженерных фортификационных сооружений к приёму такого большого количества военного персонала.

"Надо понимать, что сегодняшняя война пусть и считается всё более напоминающей войну четвёртого поколения с использованием высокоточного оружия, РЭБ, ракет, но фактически инженерные фортификации всё равно остаются ключевым фактором, который как сохраняет жизни украинских солдат, так и задерживает продвижение противника. Тут я не готов сказать, насколько были своевременно приняты решения о создании этих фортификаций. Если всё делалось буквально в виде рефлексии на возникшие сейчас риски, то говорить о высоком уровне готовности не следует. Но, я повторюсь, эффективность всех оборонительных фортификационных сооружений будет ясна уже непосредственно в бою", – сказал Селезнёв.

Игорь Криворучко также задаётся вопросом, как в действительности обстоят дела с "заранее подготовленными рубежами".

Военнослужащий ВСУ Андрей рассказал, что видел на новых позициях, куда должны переместиться украинские военнослужащие из Авдеевки, "что-то, но это что-то не того масштаба и качества".

"Возможно, что-то делается, чего я не вижу, но как-то так. К тому же я считаю нецелесообразным сталкивание лбами одних из лучших подразделений в Украине с намного превосходящей по артиллерии, людям и авиацией армией. Мы могли бы обрубать фланги, найти слабое место в их обороне и давить, но кинули вот так", – говорит военный.

Значение Авдеевки и дальнейшее развитие событий

Украинский военный эксперт Владислав Селезнёв отмечает, что статус и значение Авдеевки определяют несколько факторов. Во-первых, российская армия стремится создать буферную зону. "Авдеевка находится в 15 километрах от Донецка, и наличие в нём украинских сил обороны заставляло нервничать местных гауляйтеров, находящихся в Донецке. И такие риски имели место быть.

Например, в конце лета минувшего года украинские морские пехотинцы атаковали село Опытное южнее Авдеевки и создали противнику немало проблем, действующим в Опытном или южнее него: там уже находится район Спартак, Донецкий аэропорт и пригород самого Донецка. Представьте себе резонанс, если бы украинские морпехи зашли бы в пригород Донецка. Таким образом российские генералы, оттесняя украинскую армию западнее Авдеевки, пытаются создать буферный запас", – считает он.

Второй аспект, по мнению Селезнёва, медийный. "Захват Авдеевки создал российским генералам возможность приобрести ещё одну хорошо подсвеченную территориальную единицу. О крайнем таком успехе российская армия отчитывалась ещё в начале 2023 года, когда она оккупировала Бахмут. Даже если смотреть на тенденции в российском информационном поле, то там всё выглядит в духе "Взяли Авдеевку – значит и до Вашингтона дойдём". Хотя, безусловно, говорить о том, что ситуация на поле боя кардинально изменится со взятием Авдеевки, я бы не стал".

Владимир Зеленский на фоне стелы "Авдеевка – это Украина". 29 декабря 2023 года

Сегодня российские войска наступают на село Ласточкино на северо-западе от Авдеевки. Эксперт отметил, что проблема для украинской армии заключается в том, что западнее Авдеевки нет таких географических условий, за которые можно было бы зацепиться, создавая сильную сеть фортификационных сооружений.

"И хотя два месяца назад президент Зеленский поручил создать эти самые мощные укрепрайоны, очевидно, что о результатах работы можно будет судить только тогда, когда начнутся интенсивные бои на этих участках фронта. Возможно, будет привязка к каким-то физическим преградам: водохранилища, кряжи, пойма рек.

Селезнёв предположил, что российская армия и далее будет действовать в рамках реализации первоначального плана, с которых начиналась так называемая "специальная военная операция", – полная оккупация Луганской и Донецкой областей.

"Соответственно, российская армия и далее будет пытаться выдавливать украинские подразделения. Им важно срезать выступ украинских сил обороны в районе Угледара и за ним. Очевидно, что впереди ещё очень много работы, огромные городские агломерации Славянска и Краматорска, Покровск и Константиновка. Подконтрольных Украине населённых пунктов на территории Донецкой области ещё немало. Каждый такой населённых пункт – это де-факто город-крепость, и возможность его удержания будет напрямую зависеть от логистики.

Понятно, что россияне могут рассчитывать на масштабные успехи, если украинская армия будет испытывать весьма сильные проблемы с ресурсным обеспечением, поскольку без артиллерийских боеприпасов вести оборонительные бои крайне сложно, как и без хорошо подготовленных инженерных фортификаций. Поэтому действия как российской оккупационной армии (469 тысяч военнослужащих, техника и авиация), так и украинских сил обороны будут напрямую зависеть от обеспечения. Но если с российскими силами всё понятно, то вот с украинскими – нет.

Кейс американской военной помощи висит в воздухе, и в лучшем случае только в середине марта этот процесс будет разблокирован. Кейс военных поставок от наших европейских партнёров тоже полностью не предопределён, но там есть хорошие новости. Даже если решится вопрос с артиллерией, техникой и авиацией, то актуальным останется вопрос радиоэлектронной разведки и борьбы – это крайне важный элемент, который во многом определяет боевую мощь украинской армии. Ответа на этот вопрос пока, к сожалению, нет", – резюмирует Селезнёв.

Как заявил командующий оперативно-стратегической группировкой войск "Таврия" Александр Тарнавский , общие потери российской армии при штурме Авдеевки составили 47 тысяч военнослужащих, 364 танка, 748 бронемашин, 248 артиллерийских систем и пять самолётов. There is no independent confirmation of this information. О потерях украинских сил не сообщается.