Fighters of the 3rd OShBr retired to prepared positions on the outskirts of Avdiivka in Donetsk region, having previously inflicted numerous losses on the Russian occupiers.
What is known about the situation in the Avdiivka area
The brigade notes that despite the superiority in the number of manpower, aviation and artillery and armored vehicles, drones, and under the conditions of dropping up to a hundred anti-aircraft missiles daily on the positions of the Armed Forces, the Russian occupiers continue to suffer insane losses:
more than 1,500 dead;
more than 3,500 wounded;
more than 20 units of armored vehicles.
It is noted that the fighters of the Third Assault Division did not allow the Russian occupiers to complete a complete encirclement of the positions until the very moment of withdrawal.
The brigade withdrew to prepared positions in the vicinity of Avdiivka and leveled the front line. Until the Russians reduce their offensive speed. We continue to hold the defense in the Avdiyiv direction, - say the soldiers of the Third OShBr.
According to Oleksandr Borodin, the speaker of the 3rd OshBr, in a comment to LIGA.net journalists, as of the evening of Saturday, February 17, the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from Avdiivka is ongoing.
This is a complex operation. Because such operations are often more difficult than assault ones. They must be synchronous and coordinated, clear communication with various departments is required. But so far everything is going well. Why is it so difficult - because it is important that we give the enemy the front line that we consider necessary. Accordingly, we are keeping it now, - explains Borodin.
He noted that a powerful and numerous group of Russian occupiers operates in the Avdiivka area.
Do the Ukrainian military remain in Avdiivka?
According to information from the ATESH partisan movement, after the departure of the units of the Defense Forces from Avdiyivka, DRGs continue to operate in the city.
Ukrainian partisans who remain in the city note that the Russian occupiers are not even in a celebratory mood about the capture of Avdiyivka, as they are currently being harassed by the Ukrainian DRG.
Small groups in enemy uniforms carry out sabotage on the positions of the Russians and inflict significant losses on them. In the last few hours, several such raids were conducted and up to ten personnel were killed, - ATESH notes.
