Battle for Avdiivka: situation on October 22
After the defeat of massive attacks by armoured columns on 10-14 and 19 October, the Russian command continues to assault with infantry forces.
On 22 October, Russian infantry launched five attacks north of Avdiivka, all of which were repelled.
The maximum advance of Russian troops is up to 1.5 km in depth on the front and up to 1 km in width. The enemy has reached a narrow section of the railway line and the foot of the Avdiivka spoil tip. The Russians cannot occupy the spoil heap itself - it has become a grey area that is visible and can be shot at. Russian assault groups have climbed the spoil heap several times, but most of the assault aircraft are destroyed, and the Russians cannot gain a foothold on the heap, sitting at the foot.
The tactical situation remains favorable for Ukrainian troops. The 110th Mechanised Brigade and its attached units have held their flanks and dominant heights.
The Russian troops are trapped in a narrow sack in the lowlands, which is controlled by fire. And now the Russians have to rotate, a maneuver with heavy losses. The Russians will not be able to hold their positions in the lowlands if they are under such constant fire.
I would like to remind you that the 114th Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces launched an offensive north of Avdiivka against the villages of Stepove-Berdychi on 1 October to cut the main road to the city.
On 10-14 October, the Russians sent additional forces to the attack - two fresh motorized infantry brigades, the 15th and 21st.
On 19 October, the fourth brigade, the 30th Motorised Rifle Brigade, was sent to break through.
On 20-22 October, the Russians stopped massive attacks with armored vehicles due to heavy losses. To continue the assault, combined assault units were formed from four brigades and other units of the 1st Corps, including the Pyatnashka Special Forces brigade.
The Russians are bringing in additional reserves from the 106th Airborne Division and some tank battalions.
More than 200 units of Russian armored vehicles were destroyed and damaged in the area of the 110th Brigade and attached forces alone. Phenomenal figures. Hundreds of corpses are lying in the fields and plantations, the count is ongoing, but the occupiers have lost at least 800 dead. We have captured 30 Russian attack aircraft - they look well motivated and trained, but they raised their hands because they made a smart choice and will live. Ukrainian soldiers proved to be stronger.
Ukraine owes the holding of Avdiivka to the personnel of the 110th Mechanised Brigade and attached forces - the 2nd Battalion of the Presidential Brigade, which bore the brunt of the attack, individual battalions from the 116th and 129th Tank Brigades, the 1st Tank Brigade, the 31st Mechanised Brigade, the 52nd Separate Rifle Battalion, and the 105th Border Guard Detachment of the State Border Guard Service.
There are no words to describe the heroism of the soldiers of the 110th Mechanised Brigade. This brigade has been defending Avdiivka for a year and a half without any rotations at all! Many units have been living in their positions all the time - without any way out of Avdiivka, which is being shelled by all kinds of weapons. It's not even that - they live and fight continuously in their positions. It's hard to imagine. Since 30 September, the 110th Brigade and its attached units have been in continuous combat. These steelmen are fighting in conditions that no army in the world can withstand, and Russians run away in such conditions.
Our soldiers are tired of long battles. The Russians also hope that Ukrainians will get tired of killing them. The defenders of Avdiivka need to be replenished and reinforced to gradually give the soldiers a rest after 23 days of continuous fighting.
It is important to note that the command of the 110th Mechanised Brigade, which is leading the defense, is trusted by all units defending Avdiivka, and this trust is key to maintaining the control of the troops in a critical situation.
The enemy is currently trying to create a superiority in forces south of Avdiivka to ease the situation. The 9th, 110th, and 55th motorised rifle brigades of the Russian Armed Forces are attacking here. The enemy is trying to break through the defences of the 53rd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of Vodiane-Opytne. The enemy is making progress in the area. However, Ukrainian troops are holding their flanks securely and inflicting significant losses on the Russians. The 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade reliably holds all positions and repels all enemy attacks in the direction of Pervomaiske with significant losses for the Russians.
South of Avdiivka, Ukrainian troops also have every opportunity to successfully defend and defeat the Russian attack group. It all depends on the timely and thoughtful use of reserves and military equipment.
Overall, the crisis in the Avdiivka area is not over. Holding the frontline and powerful attacks on the occupiers are costing Ukrainian soldiers dearly.
The Ukrainian command has had enough time to respond and is, of course, pulling up reserves. All Russian attacks have been repelled, the Russian advance is dangerous, but the main line of defense has held, and it will be much harder for them to hold on to what they have captured than to continue to attack further.
Yuriy Butusov, Censor.NET
