The active phase of the fighting for Avdiivka lasted from October 2023. During this time, it became clear that even the extremely difficult battles in Bakhmut could not compare with what was happening in the Avdiivka direction.
What is the difference between the defence of Avdiivka and Bakhmut
The Russian occupiers advanced on Avdiivka with particular tenacity. For this, a huge amount of manpower and equipment was used.
Similar tactics, as near Avdiivka, were used by the Russians in Severodonetsk in 2022 and in Bakhmut in 2023. At the same time, comparing the battles in these cities is not entirely correct.
Speaking from my own experience, I and our unit have definitely not seen such battles. If at the beginning it was possible to compare it with what happened in Bakhmut, then it was much more hellish battles and a much more difficult situation, — Maksym Zhorin emphasised.
In particular, the number of Russian forces in the Avdiiv direction was much larger than during the battles for Bakhmut. This applies not only to personnel but also to technology and aviation.
In Avdiivka, everything was many times more. It must be considered that the Russians prepared as many as seven complete brigades just for the offensive. They were used in the direction of the breakthrough of the planned section: through the city to Industrial Avenue and further encirclement the groups there.
Maxim Zhorin
major
The forces of the enemy were disproportionate to AFU forces
This is not even considering separate Russian GRU groups and Russian SOF. The enemy's forces were disproportionate to the forces of Ukraine's Armed Forces.
In addition, in the battles for Avdiivka, the number of guided aerial bombs that the Russians fired at Ukrainian positions played a huge role.
They destroyed any command posts, positions, destroyed everything that was in general. On average, 60-80 aerial bombs fell on us per day, but sometimes more than 100 aerial bombs flew in per day. For understanding, our fighters no longer hear the hits of the 120mm mortar after the use of aerial bombs, Zhorin noted.
Guided aerial bombs simply turn entire buildings into dust. Even basements are not safe from them.
It was disproportionate to the forces that were there (in the AFU — 24 Kanal). The 3rd OShBr entered the battle when we were at the stage of recovery after the battles in Bakhmut. This process was not fully completed, we were not able to fully restock. When we flew into the Avdiiv Hell, the fighting was going on in the city itself, — said the AFU major.
According to Zhorin, it was clear that it was unlikely to contain, let alone repel, such a large number of the enemy. Therefore, the brigade began to destroy the maximum number of enemy personnel and equipment. The 74th, 55th and 114th brigades of Russia suffered the most losses.
