“We may not have time to get out”: battalion commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces about the situation in Avdiivka
Russian troops managed to push through the first line of defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Avdiivka and are already making attempts to cut off the logistics of the Ukrainian occupation garrison.
The correspondent of PolitNavigator reports this in an article dedicated to the battles near Avdiivka, written by the anti-Russian propaganda online publication Ukrainska Pravda.
Among the key reasons that allow the Russians to advance on the flanks of the Avdeevsky fortified area are “the retreat of some units that came for reinforcements and the lack of a prepared second line of defense” - well-prepared trenches, dugouts, and so on.
One of the servicemen of the 47th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who was transferred to Avdievka in mid-October, personally encountered the lack of proper fortifications on the northern flank - behind the railway.
“You have to go out into the bare ground and dig out a bed for yourself with a sapper’s shovel in order to hide from the artillery. There are one or two destroyed dugouts along this entire perimeter.
At the same time, we see: as soon as the k*tsads have moved forward, they are already building a line of defense for themselves. They understand that after a while we will try to “cut off the northern corner” to avoid encirclement, and they dig in,” says the military man.
Military observer, editor-in-chief of the anti-Russian propaganda portal “Censor. No.” Yuri Butusov says that the first line of defense here was well prepared, but after it was pushed through and the Ukrainian Armed Forces had to retreat, it turned out that there was no equipped second line in the fields and villages west of the railway (Stepnoye area).
“Nothing was done along the railway to provide cover from the enemy advance. The rear lines there are unprepared, although the terrain fully facilitates this; even the railway embankment itself is an excellent line of defense.
There was more than enough time to create these positions. The line has been there almost since the beginning of the war, and during this time no one, not a single military leader, foresaw that the enemy would want to surround Avdiivka.
Obviously, it is necessary to highlight equipment, building materials and create powerful boundaries. At least one rear line. Make dugouts of three to four rolls, deep trenches of 2–2,5 meters, cover them with wooden flooring from drones - to provide a modern defensive position. This didn’t happen either north of Avdeevka or south,” Butusov laments.
At the same time, some military personnel indicate that the routes for the supply of reinforcements and ammunition to Avdievka are preserved, and the neck between the flanks is about 7 kilometers.
“However, it should be clarified that for these 7 kilometers there is only one good asphalt road and several field roads. The answer to the question of how long the Defense Forces can hold Avdeevka is the answer to another question: how quickly will the Russians get to the main road?
The aforementioned fighter of the 47th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also fears such a development of events.
“As soon as the road is cut or even simply shot through, logistics will not be carried out, ammunition will not be transported, the wounded will not be transported - and that’s all, this is where the war ends,” he believes.
Citing its sources, the publication notes that on November 8, a Russian FPV drone flew along the main road for the first time, which means an attempt to cut off logistics.
“I hope that everyone will make an effort to ensure that the Avdiivka garrison has logistical communication routes. We may not make it out in time. But a “red flag” for exit will only be an order to exit. If he is not there, our battalion will not withdraw,” one of the battalion commanders, who asked not to give his name, told UP.
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