Dec 9, 2023
Kostya Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images
- Ukraine’s tanks are playing a key role in defending Avdiivka from Russian assaults.
- Tanks have generally taken a backseat in fighting to avoid minefields and drone and artillery attacks.
- After suffering heavy armor losses, Russian forces in Avdiivka are largely advancing on foot.
Ukrainian tanks, which have taken a backseat in fighting in recent months, are playing a key role in fending off Russian attacks around the embattled city of Avdiivka.
Both Russia and Ukraine have generally been positioning their tanks behind the front line to avoid hitting minefields and being struck by drones and artillery, Forbes reported.
Instead, they have been used more as long-range artillery rather than engaging in direct combat.
However, in Avdiivka, where Russia has been carrying out its biggest assault in months, Ukraine’s tanks have returned to the front of the fight.
“We hold the defense line thanks to the tanks. Tank and artillery systems are extremely important. Tank, artillery, and infantry units all work in a coordinated manner,” a Ukrainian soldier near Avdiivka told Anadolu.
When Russia began its campaign to seize Avdiivka, its forces continuously sent armored columns to the fight and suffered heavy losses, including hundreds of tanks and other vehicles.
A military analyst previously told Business Insider that the “disorderly” columns were vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks, and their continued use showed that Russia hadn’t learned lessons from earlier big defeats.
Since mid-November, it appears that Russia copied Ukraine’s counteroffensive tactics, with soldiers leaving their vehicles behind and advancing on foot, Forbes reported.
In response, Ukraine has begun using its tanks as frontline fighting vehicles once again.
A video that circulated online this week appears to show tanks part of Ukraine’s 116th Brigade firing on attacking Russian troops, who can then be seen fleeing on foot.
Ukrainian tankers of the 116th Brigade of Ukraine repelling Russian attack on Avdiivka front. https://t.co/fl5VG8C8VO pic.twitter.com/ukS8raxoHX
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 8, 2023
Ukraine has deployed at least five brigades to the Avdiivka front, including one tank brigade and four mechanized brigades, which have tanks, per Forbes.
Russia is continuing with its assault on the city in Donetsk Oblast, despite having made marginal gains.
Russia has suffered heavy losses in personnel and equipment in Avdiivka, but its forces appear to be able to continuously reinforce with new recruits, the think tank the Institute for the Study of War said.
While Ukraine has been suffering from manpower shortages, Russia, which has a population over three times the size of Ukraine’s, has not had the same problem.
The US sent 31 advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in September — but they’ve been notably absent from the fighting.
Analysts told Business Insider that this is probably because it’s hard to put them to good use, citing the worsening weather and Russia’s hardcore defensive lines.
Ukrainian forces would be “waiting for the right moment,” probably spring, when a new offensive could be launched, Mark Cancian, a retired US Marine Corps colonel a senior advisor with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider last month.
https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraines-tanks-are-back-in-action-to-defend-avdiivka-2023-12
“A military analyst previously told Business Insider that the “disorderly” columns were vulnerable to Ukrainian attacks, and their continued use showed that Russia hadn’t learned lessons from earlier big defeats.”
The AFU is constantly learning new lessons during combat operations and readjusts its tactics accordingly. The potato generals know only one tactic; send in the meat, either with or without vehicles. At best, they copy Ukrainian stratagems, though mostly poorly. Their meat puppets aren’t up to the task to match the AFU soldiers. It’s the classical case of the blind leading the blind.
The poisonous, strutting little nazi gremlin gave the order to take Avdiivka in time for his “election” next year.
Hopefully arse cancer will get him before. But anyway, his vile actions MUST fail.
I think that is one reason why the AFU is holding on to Avdiivka. This would not look good for the rat’s “election campaign”. But, I bet the mafiosi already have one or more excuses in the drawer in case their attempt fails by the fateful date.
“Very disturbing news come from the front lines that our defenders are indeed now conserving ammo, unable to repel russian advance as they were a month ago solely due to uncertain supply chain.”
I hope that this week will not be historic and will only mark the continuity and strengthening of aid to Ukraine.
Show us that America is still America.
A crackdown on the allied border blockers, will help resolve some of this issue. Funding urgently needs to be allocated, but the logistics lines need to be cleared up with locations being prioritized to surge in what Ukraine urgently needs. Expand the use of rail to wagon the trucks over as well.