February 17, 2023
By OFP
This is a Telegram combat report of the Ukrainian Third Assault Division.
The following is a translation from Ukrainian via Google and OFP:
Since the relocation of the Third Separate Assault Brigade to Avdiivka, our units have inflicted significant losses on the key strike group of the Russian army.
Despite a significant advantage in artillery, attack drones and the regular use of up to a hundred air defense systems per day, the enemy lost:
- more than 1,500 dead;
- more than 3,500 wounded;
- and more than 20 units of armored vehicles.
Until the withdrawal, the fighters of the Third Assault Division did not allow the enemy to completely encircle the positions.
In the midst of intense fighting, there was also hand-to-hand combat and the rotation of our forces in Avdiivtsi was accompanied by Russian drones and artillery.
There were reports that when the Russians caught wind of a Ukrainian retreat, they threw everything and everyone they had at the Ukrainian lines, suffering heavy losses.
The video shows an FPV drone attacking our armored personnel carrier. Along with the fighting company “Vovcha Zgraya”.
The brigade withdrew to prepared positions on the outskirts of Avdiivka and leveled the front line. Currently, the Russians are not losing their offensive momentum. We continue to hold the defense in the Avdiyiv direction.
Official statement of the commander of the Third Separate Assault Brigade:
“I thank the fighters for the worthy battle they gave to the enemy in Avdiivka in the conditions of the total superiority of the Russians in manpower, equipment and ammunition.
They did everything and even more. Thank you for your resilience, everyone.
We retreat to prepared positions to return and deliver an even more powerful blow.
Thanks to the command for the considered decision. The battle continues,” Andriy Biletskyi.
The brigade was established by a merger of the Azov SSO (Special Operations Forces) units that had been created by former Azov Battalion veterans.
“I can’t tell you our losses. But in Avdiivka, I can tell you that it was 1 to 7. There are seven Russians for one Ukrainian,” — Zelensky
I believe it was a CNN reporter that recently went to Avdiivka and reported there were bodies of dead russians everywhere and no efforts at all to retrieve their fellow countrymen.
Yeas, I remember. The entire front seems to be littered with roach corpses. Beats me how they can keep attacking knowing the high probability of being killed … or wounded and be left to die in the dirt.
The military experts will confirm on some future date the reasons for the loss of Avdiivka. Obviously they are similar or the same as Bakhmut: outgunned and outnumbered.
In Bakhmut the defenders were still using old Soviet artillery systems and were chucking back only 20% of what landed on them. Most of Russian murders of Ukrainian troops are done by artillery.
Situation in Avdiivka was similar to Bakhmut, only worse; ammo shortages were and are critical.
Ukraine’s other allies were unable or unwilling to make up the shortfall caused by the US Aid block.
Those responsible for the block are murderers by proxy.
I agree. This defeat is due in large part by the pro-russian faction of the House, and their orange boss.