The military correspondent of “KP” visited the liberated city of Avdiivka.
Photo: Alexander KOTS
RETURN OF THE DRONE
– What kind of pantomime is this? – I discreetly ask the officer with the call sign Chili, who, actively gesturing in the front seat, explains something to the driver.
We run through fields along forest areas, where until recently there were positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. You look around and understand how difficult it was for the brave Russian troops who expelled the enemy from these fortresses. Open terrain (“postcard”, as they say here), minefields, swarms of attack drones… But in the end we crossed this territory towards the northern outskirts of Avdeevka. Tens of square kilometers that finally went from the “occupied” status to the “liberated” category.
“I’m giving you instructions in case an FPV drone appears,” Chili calmly responds. – Yes, of course, we realize it. When the drones dive, the signal begins to disappear closer to the ground, it already flies by inertia. Therefore, you must move left or right…
Photo: Alexander KOTS
– Is this theory or practice?
– Personal experience. And yes, if something happens, if the car suddenly breaks down or stops, there is no need to run out into the field under any circumstances. We just go back and forth along the road and spread out. You can’t group together.
We headed to Avdeevka with soldiers of the 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Guards Combined Army. We have known each other for a long time, in the Kharkov region and we crossed paths near Kremennaya. That feeling when you walk up front to see friends you seem to have known your whole life. It was the 30th brigade that broke through the enemy defenses on the northern outskirts of Avdeevka along Timiryazev Street and was the first to reach Industrialny Avenue, cutting off the “road of life” for the “defenders” defenders in the southern part of the city. . The vaunted “Azov”* then retreated to the Koksokhim plant, and our motorized riflemen occupied a key intersection along Industrial Avenue, where the famous stele, on which Zelensky took a selfie, was installed.
Photo: Alexander KOTS
Abandoned bodies of fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
“Honestly, more was expected from them (“Azovitas”*. – Ed.), – admits the fighter with the call sign Ren. – There was a lot of talk about his preparation, motivation, character. And they just ran. Although battles are never easy. But we accomplished the task, including thanks to the competent management of our father commanders. These are “Topol”, “Sailor”, “Patriot”, “Artist”…
Photo: Alexander KOTS
We stomp along the country road that leads north of Avdeevka. Please note that Donetsk is literally within reach from here. In the fields you can see empty caponeras and bullet casings: this was where the enemy attacked the city. To the left, at short intervals and at extremely low altitudes, Su-25 attack aircraft attack. On the right are the attack helicopters. The artillery roars incessantly. My drone detector is also woven into the orchestra of military instruments, periodically signaling to me that there is a “bird” in the air. Avdeevsky Koksokhim advances. It is already under our control, but the smoke of a powerful explosion rises above it. Or they are already battles outside the city, in the Lastochkino area. Or the enemy is covering a plant that has come under our control. A mortar “hat” takes you out of your thoughts. to the right, 300 meters.
Photo: Alexander KOTS
“This is not for us, they are trying to find our artillery,” says Chili and calls for us to move forward.
Corpses of Ukrainian fighters, their bulletproof vests, unexploded shells and homemade munitions dropped from drones are periodically found in the destroyed trenches along the road. Having retreated, the enemy is trying to stabilize the front line and is already snarling with artillery fire and kamikaze drones. Periodically we hear their characteristic “pops”.
On February 16, taking advantage of the success, the 30th Brigade, together with other units of the Russian Armed Forces, blocked the second “artery” of the enemy – the Avdeevka-Severnoye highway. The units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine trapped in the area of the 9th quarter (Jimik microdistrict) felt completely sad, but they were already “cheered up” by the attack aircraft of our 1st Army Corps.
In the area of the Avdeevsky dachas, reduced to bricks, the tour ends unexpectedly. The enemy has strongly activated the drones and the escort decides not to take risks. We hide under a canopy in one of the patios. Chili talks about his comrade-in-arms, a junior lieutenant with the call sign Yula. Through these places he went with his company to Avdeevka.
Photo: Alexander KOTS
Yula’s feat
“In the city he took it street by street, block by block. He received a shrapnel wound (a mortar flew into the company’s position), but flatly refused to evacuate. Not everyone is capable of this…
– Why do you think he made this decision?
– Because, probably, he is loyal to his country, his people and his soldiers. They were given the task of advancing to the village of Lastochkino and unearthing the enemy defenses.
Photo: Alexander KOTS
– What does it mean?
– Both artillery work and infantry work. She just breaks the strong points and cleans them completely. The wounded Yula advanced through the forest regiments and fields, along Lastochkino. In one of the enemy positions taken, he set up a command and observation post and sent an assault group to clear the following forest belts. The enemy retreated, fled, abandoned positions. Yula adjusted the artillery fire and controlled the battle in his sector, despite being wounded. He did it until the last second of his life, when artillery fire covered him. Even when he received a second wound, he was seriously injured, after which he could not survive. He continued to command the company and his subordinates, reporting on the situation, on the enemy drones, where the enemy was, where the enemy team was. Until your last second…
-Have you known him for a long time?
– Also with Kremennaya. We exchanged a lot of addresses with him, we talked a lot with him. Young, only 20 years old, very competent, he knows tactics and combat training well. Kind, cheerful, understanding, sincere, he will never betray, he will always help in difficult times.
Photo: Alexander KOTS
MERCENARY
The conversation is interrupted by a “bird” buzzing nearby. She floats, as if she hears, and screeches somewhere to the side. From there a characteristic “pop” is heard.
“There were many Western mercenaries,” Ren says upon returning. – Nashiviks are different. When some gathered, they thought that the Ukrainians had simply latched on to a foreign gal. But when it is already huge… When they fought around the steles with the “Azovites”*, after the battle many bodies with foreign stripes also appeared. Probably mercenaries.
– But what is this battle that doesn’t stop all day long?
– Today, one might say, it is still calm. But, apparently, now we are trying to push the enemy back as much as possible, to immobilize him. To create the preconditions to continue moving forward and give Donetsk a little more freedom to breathe.
A couple of hours later we arrived at an abandoned car in a brick hangar. We see recent, inverted holes in the ground: traces of explosive cassettes. The SUV’s windshield was covered in a network of cracks. The wings were detached by the blast wave and the cockpit lamps were torn from their supports. But the wheels are intact. And in our situation, this is the main thing. As soon as we head to a relatively safe area, the steering locks. But the Russian car industry is good because the car can be repaired even in the field. Especially when the driver is skilled. This is exactly what we have.
In the afternoon, the enemy attacked the Kalinin hospital in Donetsk. Having lost the initiative on the front, he continues to take it out on civilians…
*Extremist and terrorist organization.
