Ukraine continues to hold positions in Avdiyivka; military experts indicate a change in Russian tactics / Article

According to the statement of the operational strategic group “Tavria” of the Ukrainian army, Russian troops have tried to carry out 26 attacks on Avdijivka and its surrounding settlements in the last 24 hours. Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled all attacks by Russian troops, inflicting significant losses on the enemy and preventing it from advancing.

Ukrainian military expert Roman Svitans has concluded that the third offensive of Russian troops in the vicinity of Avdiyivka has already begun.

In an interview with the Ukrainian news agency “UNIAN”, Svitans stated that the widespread black soil in the Donetsk region creates difficulties in moving the military equipment of the Russian troops. According to the military expert, with the beginning of the rainy season, Russia began to have problems with the involvement of military equipment in warfare.

“It’s Donbas, after all, there is more than half a meter deep and wet black soil – it’s practically liquid concrete, which will not allow the machinery to pass through in any way,” Svitan said.

Therefore, as Svitan pointed out, the Russian army has chosen a new tactic of so-called “live attacks”.

When military equipment, being on paved roads and at a fairly large distance from the manpower of Russian troops, implements the cover of its attack

Also, Svitans pointed out that in the direction of Avdiyivka this manpower cover is mostly implemented with the help of artillery.

Swittan also noted that usually such artillery units are small in number. There could be around 30 people in one unit – rarely more. However, as the military expert claimed, such units try to carry out dozens of attacks in the direction of Avdiyivka per day.

“They die without a doubt, and of course they retreat. But immediately the next waves of attacks begin. There is such a set schedule of movement. Russia has already used roughly the same tactics in the direction of Bakhmut. Then Russia also “throws” our positions with their troops living force,” emphasized Svittan.

According to Svitan, Russia usually carries out such attack waves to determine the positions of Ukrainian armed forces. “It’s called working with live bait,” a military expert described the tactics used by Russia.

Meanwhile, the military-political analyst Alexander Kovalenko stated that Russian troops are intensively and from several directions attacking Avdijivka and surrounding villages with the aim of encircling the city. Kovalenko noted that Russian troops are trying to encircle Avdiyivka to take control of one of the tracks near the city, which Kovalenko described as a vital logistics artery.