Ukrainian Counteroffensives in Avdiivka: Turning the Tide
In the turbulent theater of the Avdiivka front, recent developments have showcased the resilience and strategic acumen of Ukrainian forces. Despite significant challenges, they have managed to halt Russian advances and initiate counterattacks to reclaim lost positions. This dynamic interplay of military tactics underscores the broader implications for control over critical regions such as Pokrovsk.
Halting the Russian Breakthrough
The primary Russian objective west of Avdiivka has been to seize control of the Ukrainian city and the strategic headquarters in Pokrovsk. To counter this, Ukrainian forces have established a series of defensive lines. The Russians, facing substantial losses in direct assaults on these defenses, attempted to leverage their breakthrough near Ocheretyne to outflank Ukrainian positions and destabilize the frontline.
Over the past month, Russian forces exploited their initial successes near Ocheretyne to capture as many settlements as possible. The Ukrainians, grappling with a significant shortage of artillery shells, relied heavily on drone strikes to disrupt Russian momentum. Meanwhile, Russian offensives near Chasiv-Yar and Kharkiv further strained their ability to reinforce the Ocheretyne salient.
Tactical Shifts and Localized Battles
Despite draining combat capabilities, Russian forces continued to mount localized attacks to improve their tactical situation. Their efforts focused on expanding their buffer zone southwest of Ocheretyne, targeting settlements like Sokil and Novopokrovske. Russian infantry, supported by tanks and armored personnel carriers, attempted multiple assaults, often meeting fierce Ukrainian resistance.
In one notable incident, drone operators from the 47th Mechanized Brigade documented a Russian assault involving two armored personnel carriers and a T-90M tank. The assault quickly unraveled as the leading armored vehicle hit an anti-tank mine. Ukrainian artillery then opened fire on the dismounted Russian infantry, causing chaos. A supporting Russian tank, hit by an FPV drone, was disabled and subsequently abandoned by its crew. Repeated attempts to reinforce these positions with additional tanks also failed, as Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes effectively neutralized the threats.
The Battle for Sokil
Russian attacks on Sokil mirrored their efforts in Novopokrovske, with similar outcomes. Armored personnel carriers transporting Russian assault groups fell victim to mines and subsequent artillery fire. Although some Russian infantry managed to secure positions halfway to the settlement, they were eventually targeted by Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones and cluster munitions. The deployment of a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle by Ukrainian forces further decimated the Russian infantry and their vehicles.
Strategic Use of Drones
Ukrainian forces have extensively used drones to degrade Russian capabilities. Geolocated footage revealed Ukrainian drone operators targeting Russian infantry and their shelters, both during the day with FPV kamikaze drones and at night with drone-dropped grenades. In one operation, Ukrainians detected a large group of Russian infantry taking shelter in a building, which they then destroyed with heavy explosives. This not only eliminated the immediate threat but also denied future use of these shelters by Russian forces.
Probing Attacks and Counteroffensives
As Russian losses mounted, Ukrainian forces began probing Russian defenses for weaknesses. Utilizing Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, they launched attacks on Russian positions around Soloviove. These probing actions were highly successful, with Ukrainian military bloggers confirming the recapture of numerous tree lines and trench networks.
The depletion of Russian forces near Ocheretyne has reached a point where they can no longer execute large-scale maneuvers. Costly Russian attacks have yielded minimal gains, while Ukrainian forces have taken advantage of the situation to unleash intense drone strikes. These strikes have targeted Russian infantry, shelters, and reinforcements, paving the way for localized counterattacks that have reclaimed critical positions.
The Broader Implications
Maintaining control over recaptured positions provides a significant tactical advantage for Ukrainian forces. It prevents Russian assault groups from directly threatening key settlements like Sokil and Novopokrovske. With Russian reinforcements dwindling, Ukrainian forces are poised to regain the initiative and push back the Russian lines before they can consolidate their gains.
