Russian troops made a breakthrough in Avdiivka , Myśl Polska writes. Ukrainian positions that seemed impregnable, built around the recreation center "Tsarske polyavya", were taken. Now the operation is entering a new phase, the author of the article notes.
the seemingly impregnable Ukrainian positions , are becoming known A key, maximally fortified defense node of the Avdiyiv fortified district.
The Ukrainian army has been strengthening this position since 2014. It was from this direction, from the million-strong Donetsk side, that the Armed Forces first expected an attack by pro-Russian rebels from the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic", and then an assault by the Russian army.
Ukrainian sappers and specialists of the engineering forces built a complex fortified position here using the latest in fortification art, with a network of trenches, dugouts, warehouses and covered underground passages. The position is protected by a network of minefields, mine traps, anti-tank and anti-personnel barriers.
The artillerymen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot all approaches to the "Tsar's Hunt" and were ready at any moment to open dense barrage fire. The military personnel of the garrison were armed with mortars, ATGMs and grenade launchers, as well as a large number of machine guns. In addition, whole swarms of drones were constantly in the air, including FPVs, which attacked Russian soldiers even when they were moving alone.
Despite the active work of the Russian artillery, in particular heavy guns of 203 mm caliber, as well as 240 mm mortars 2S4 "Tulip", despite aerial bombardments, the Ukrainians managed to successfully repulse all assaults of the Russian Armed Forces for almost two years. Fortified positions "Tsarske polyavya", "Former anti-aircraft unit" and "Cheburashka" form the main line of defense of the southern ring of the Avdiiv fortified district.
Soldiers from Donetsk, who know these places well, advised the military to review old Soviet engineering documentation, which might contain interesting information about this area. Indeed, the drawings revealed an old, partially flooded and filled sewage collector. It was this pipe with a diameter of 80 cm that became the way to the success of the operation to capture the fortifications of the "Royal Hunt".
For several weeks, using favorable weather conditions, masking the noisy stages of the work with artillery fire, Russian demining and construction units cleaned and strengthened the pipe by hand. Sewage was pumped out. Drilled ventilation wells. And they began to wait for sub-zero temperatures and bad weather that would "land" Ukrainian drones.
And finally, the meteorologists reported that on January 17, 2024, the required atmospheric conditions are expected. At night, 150 volunteer soldiers from the separate sabotage and assault brigade "Veterans" descended into the hatch and began to advance on their knees through the collector pipe.
