A shocking story is revealed which is also a turning point in the fall of the city of Avdiivka. Avdiivka is located northwest of the city of Donetsk and was an incredibly fortified city perhaps better than Bakhmut which fell to the Wagner Russians.
Avdiivka is a strategically important city for Ukraine and its military, it is heavily fortified while the Ukrainian artillery uses Avdiivka to shell the city of Donetsk. For months Avdiivka has been surrounded by the Russians but the city has withstood the attacks since the Ukrainians have turned it into a fortress since 2014. The Russian forces had losses mainly in armored vehicles, they have lost a lot lately.
A shocking story is revealed which is also a turning point in the fall of the city of Avdiivka. Avdiivka is located northwest of the city of Donetsk and was an incredibly fortified city perhaps better than Bakhmut which fell to the Wagner Russians.
Avdiivka is a strategically important city for Ukraine and its military, it is heavily fortified while the Ukrainian artillery uses Avdiivka to shell the city of Donetsk. For months Avdiivka has been surrounded by the Russians but the city has withstood the attacks since the Ukrainians have turned it into a fortress since 2014. The Russian forces had losses mainly in armored vehicles, they have lost a lot lately (please read also the analysis titled “The Russians launched a third wave of attacks on the encircled Avdiivka“).
The Russians couldn’t figure it out until they discovered a 2km water pipeline of minimum diameter (1 meter) and by dragging 150 Russian soldiers through the pipeline they managed to get behind the Ukrainian lines and take the Ukrainians by surprise. In this way… the Russians captured southern Avdiivka.
The Battle of Avdiivka
The battle for Avdiivka began in October 2023. Despite significant successes around the city, the Russian army has managed to encircle the large Ukrainian fortress so far. However, this did not stop the Russian advance and the past week was marked by further Russian victories inside Avdiivka itself.
Despite attempts by the Ukrainian General Staff to refute reports of a Russian victory in Avdiivka, citing it as mere “Russian propaganda”, Ukrainian sources were the first to reveal the details of Russian military operations in the town. They were soon confirmed by Russian sources.
The incredible Russian operation
Ukrainian defenses in the southeastern part of the city were destroyed as a result of a dangerous and unique Russian operation.
The soldiers of various Russian units had been preparing the operation for several weeks. They opened passages in an old flooded underground pipe 2 kilometers long, which was less than a meter in diameter. The pipe ran under the railway, directly under the Ukrainian positions and led to the residential districts.
Special equipment, including oxygen cylinders, was given to the soldiers. Special air ducts were made in the pipe, the necessary military equipment and ammunition were hidden inside. The operation was carried out under heavy fire from Russian artillery aimed at avoiding detection of the underground forces and apparently to mislead the Ukrainians.
As a result, the operation ended successfully. A group of about 150 Russian soldiers went through the 2km pipeline in the freezing water and suddenly attacked from behind the backs of the Ukrainian soldiers. The Ukrainian army was literally taken by surprise and did not even understand where the Russian fire was coming from.
At the same time on the surface, the Ukrainian positions were attacked by three reconnaissance and assault divisions of the “Veterans” volunteer brigade. As a result of the sudden attack, the Ukrainian stronghold in the area of the Tsarskaya Ohota resort was destroyed within a few hours. The Ukrainian army suffered significant losses, many Ukrainian soldiers were captured.
The successful operation allowed the Russian army to gain a foothold in the southeastern part of Avdiivka and enter the streets of the city. They moved along Grushevskogo, Chernishevskogo and Sportivnaya Streets and reached the southern part of Sobornaya Street. The advance in the region was also possible due to the recent Russian victory on the territory of the former military air defense base located on the road to Donetsk.
After protracted fighting, Russian forces took control of this strategically important Ukrainian stronghold, to the west of which there are areas of open ground where retreating Ukrainian units have nowhere to hide. According to preliminary information, the fighting has already reached the 9th district to the south of Avdiivka. This is a complex of high-rise buildings, the control of which will allow Russian forces to control almost the entire city, increasing the losses of the defending Ukrainian group. Avdiivka falls and it will be a resounding loss even greater than the great defeat of the Ukrainians at Bakhmut.
