50 vehicles, hundreds of soldiers
Drone films major Russian attack on Avdiivka
January 22, 2024, 7:24 a.m
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For months, Moscow’s troops have been attacking the defensive positions around Avdiivka with heavy losses. A Ukrainian unit is now releasing footage of a failed Russian attack in October. It is said to be one of the largest attacks on the city to date.
The area around Avdiivka is one of the hot spots on the front in Ukraine. In early October, Russia’s armed forces launched a new offensive to encircle the industrial city in the Donetsk region. But Moscow’s associations are paying a high price in blood for the gradual progress.
Over the weekend, the Ukrainian 110th mechanized brigade released on Facebook a drone video that is said to show one of the largest Russian attacks the city has experienced to date. Accordingly, the photos were taken north of Avdiivka between the villages of Krasnohorivka and Stepove last October. According to Ukrainian information, Russian troops tried to gain a foothold in Stepove with 50 armored vehicles and around 500 soldiers.
The now published video from the 110th Brigade’s reconnaissance drone provides an insight into the Russian army’s attack tactics. Moscow’s troops initially prepare the battlefield by using smoke weapons to disguise their advance with artificial smoke screens. The attack columns, divided into four groups, are each led by tanks. According to the information in the video, the tanks at the front are supposed to cut a path through the mined terrain in order to enable the less heavily armored vehicles to advance.
But the plan doesn’t work. The Ukrainian artillery fires on the attackers. Several tanks are put out of action by mines and shelling. This causes the Russian advance to stall and some vehicles turn around again. The advancing infantry doesn’t seem to find any gaps in the Ukrainian defense either.
The 110th Brigade did not comment on the losses in the battle. However, the unit announces that it will soon publish a second video about the further course of the attack.