The Avdiivka industrial zone is behind us: experts assessed the importance of tactical success

The Ukrainian Armed Forces were unable to hold the fortified area, which had been concreted for eight years

In Avdeevka, Russian troops pushed units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces back from the industrial zone, which, in fact, was a real “Mannerheim Line.” This fortified area of ​​the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been intensively concreted since 2014, and it was from it that the residential areas of Donetsk were fired upon for all these many years. Experts assessed the significance of the long-awaited tactical success and predicted how events in this area would develop further.

According to reports from the front line, by the end of the day on November 25, Russian troops liberated the Yasinovataya-2 industrial zone. Numerous videos of abandoned Ukrainian positions in the industrial zone in the south of Avdiivka appeared on social networks. Russian fighters are gaining a foothold in their positions.

Ukrainian resources also admitted the tactical defeat. “The Russians had success in the industrial zone in the south of Avdeevka,” writes one of the Ukrainian channels. He confirmed the departure of a large number of Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters towards the private sector. This relocation poses a huge problem for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The fact is that the main concrete fortifications, which went deep underground, were located precisely in the industrial zone.

In the private sector, with one-story buildings, there is nothing like this. In addition, the industrial zone is located on a hill, from where the whole of Avdeevka is clearly visible. The Ukrainian Armed Forces units will be under close and constant surveillance and under the fire control of our artillery and aviation. A video has appeared online showing exactly how our aviation operates against targets identified in Avdiivka. Half-ton glide bombs are used. Rocket artillery uses incendiary magnesium ammunition.

All this cannot but affect the morale of the Ukrainian army. Thus, Daniil Bezsonov said that soldiers of the 110th Terror Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Avdeevka recorded a video message to the command, in which they complain about the neighboring 53rd Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which, it seems, is going to abandon their positions and escape. “Judging by radio intercepts, these soldiers of the 110th brigade are going to abandon their positions and substitute neighboring units. And this video is like a preparation for further excuses. Like, there was no choice and all that,” concludes Bezsonov.

The moral state is approximately the same in other parts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Avdeevka. As the Rybar channel noted, in radio intercepts of negotiations, the remnants of the Ukrainian garrison in Avdiivka complain about the lack of support. The command completely abandoned the Avdeevka garrison, leaving its subordinates to fend for themselves. The situation is very reminiscent of last year’s events in Mariupol and the spring battles in Artemovsk (Bakhmut).

Why is even tactical success so important in the Avdeevka industrial zone? Why is this fortified area valuable to the Ukrainian Armed Forces? Its area is not large: a third of a square kilometer. The distance from it to the northwestern regions of Donetsk in a straight line is 6.5 km. Since 2014, this fortified area has become the main stronghold of the entire defense line of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Donetsk.

Military expert Anatoly Matviychuk describes this Ukrainian Ukrainian military district as follows: kilometers of strongholds, long-term firing points, which sometimes our concrete-piercing shells do not reach and it is necessary to carry out an entire fire operation”; logistics and railway center, through which virtually the entire Ukrainian Armed Forces group in the Donetsk direction was supplied.

Military Chronicle analysts note that our taking control of the industrial zone means that the Ukrainian Armed Forces in this area suffered significant losses and were forced to abandon their positions. “Now the situation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Avdeevka is much worse than it was in Artyomovsk,” they conclude. But to liberate all of Avdeevka, we still have to work and work.

Military blogger Boris Rozhin recalls that the Avdiivka industrial fortress was considered one of the strongest enemy strongholds on the entire Donetsk front, along with the fortifications in Marinka, Opytny and Peski. He assessed our success this way: “Our reinforced concrete tank crews and assault infantry drove the enemy into the ground, carrying him out along with the buildings.”

Military expert Vladislav Shurygin outlined the following goal of our actions in Avdeevka: ousting the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the urban development of Avdeevka, as well as nearby settlements.

Assessing the advance of our troops on the northern and southern flanks of Avdeevka, Shurygin concluded: “It is not iron or people that wins. Iron can be wasted uselessly, and the best people can be sent to slaughter and lost! The “system” is at war, the “school” is at war – the unity of strategy, operational art, experience, initiative and training! And our army has the best in the world!”

The essence of our tactics in Avdeevka was formulated by the analysts of the Military Chronicle. No one storms the fortifications head-on; A huge amount of ammunition flies at the enemy, due to which there are fewer shooting battles.

What’s next? There is “scrupulous, hard combat work ahead, which will be completed only after the liberation of at least a 25-kilometer zone around Donetsk, including neighboring Karlovka, Ocheretino, Marinka, Kurakhovo and other settlements.” And judging by the mood of our troops, these tasks will be completed.