Battle of Avdiivka
Part of the eastern Ukraine campaign of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A destroyed building in Avdiivka after Russian shelling, March 2023
Date21 February 2022 – present
(1 year, 9 months, 1 week and 6 days)
Location
Avdiivka (and surrounding villages), Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
48°8′N 37°45′E / 48.133°N 37.750°E / 48.133; 37.750
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Russia
 Donetsk People's Republic (until 30 September 2022)		  Ukraine
Units involved
Casualties and losses
50+ civilians killed, 35+ wounded

The battle of Avdiivka is an ongoing military engagement between the Russian Armed Forces and Russian-controlled Donbas militias on one side and the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the other. It is being fought over the city of Avdiivka, located in the Donbas region.[8] Fighting started when violence erupted in the Donbas again on 21 February 2022, when Russian president Vladimir Putin recognized the Donetsk People's Republic.[9] Days later, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Avdiivka was among the first places to be attacked.[10]

Avdiivka is one of the most fortified settlements in Ukraine and has been described as a "gateway" to nearby Russian-occupied Donetsk city. Ukraine's continued control of Avdiivka has prevented Russia from using Donetsk and its resources as a communications hub and prevented Russian breakthroughs on this axis, despite heavy fighting for over a year.[11][12][13]

Background

Avdiivka is a strategic location in the heart of the Donetsk region, near Donetsk, the region's principal city.[13] Avdiivka has been at the front lines of the Russo-Ukrainian War since 2015.[8] In 2017 the battle of Avdiivka resulted in destruction in the town, though Ukrainian forces maintained control of the city.[8]

Early battles

Early fighting (21 February – 17 April 2022)

Fighting began on 21 February 2022, when Russian forces alongside separatist militias renewed fighting in Avdiivka.[10] When Russia officially started its invasion of Ukraine, Avdiivka was one of its main targets. On 13 March, Russian forces bombed the Avdiivka Coke Plant[14] although the Russians accused Ukraine of sabotaging it.[15] The National Police of Ukraine said on 22 March that Russia used Tornado-S MLRSs in bombardments of Avdiivka, allegedly causing civilian casualties.[16] It was reported on 25 March that Artem Murakhovskyi, a commander of the Azov Regiment, was killed in Avdiivka.[17]

Escalation (18 April – 27 July 2022)

Avdiivka 1st school after shelling by white phosphorus munitions

On 18 April, Russia renewed its invasion on Eastern Ukraine, with both sides proclaiming the beginning of the "battle of Donbas" and Russia beginning to heavily shell and attack Avdiivka.[18][19][20] Around 2,000 of Avdiivka's residents were forced to flee underground.[21][22][23] Ukraine claimed to have repelled Russian advances in Avdiivka on 19 April.[24]

During the battle, use of white phosphorus munitions by Russian forces was reported several times. Governor of Donetsk Oblast Pavlo Kyrylenko reported a phosphorus attack on the city industrial zone on 26 March,[25] on the area of the coking plant on 26 April, and on the city center, causing several fires, the next day.[26][27] On 29 April, videos of the Russian army shelling Ukrainian forces in Avdiivka with a thermobaric weapon were published.[28] On 18 May, Avdiivka 1st school was destroyed by a Russian attack with phosphorus munitions.[29][30] On May 26, Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian forces were advancing through Avdiivka, capturing many areas in the city.[31]

On 1 June, the DPR took control of a major highway.[32] On 6 June, the DPR took territory near Kamianka.[33] On 12 June, Russia again bombed the Avdiivka Coke Plant.[34] School No. 6 was destroyed on 21 June, being the third school destroyed in Avdiivka.[35] On 24 June, Russian forces fired on Avdiivka.[36] Russian forces later captured Novoselivka Druha on 4 July, which is 10 km northeast of Avdiivka, in an attempt to encircle the city.[37] On 7 July, Russian forces shelled Avdiivka for 24 hours. They hit infrastructure, a hospital, residential buildings, a bus depot, and the Avdiivka Coke Plant.[38]

On 18 July, the DPR claimed it had "half-surrounded" Avdiivka, having blocked two of the roads leading into the town. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) an American based non-profit think-tank, also stated that fighting north of Avdiivka had intensified on July 18.[39] However, Igor Girkin, a Russia nationalist and regular critic of Russia's war effort in Ukraine, said that the DPR's forces were unable to make many gains due to Ukrainian artillery.[40]

Renewed assaults and capture of Pisky (28 July 2022 – March 2023)

On 28 July, DPR and Russian forces launched a offensive to surround Avdiivka. Russian and separatist forces assaulted the towns of Krasnohorivka, Pisky, and other towns north of Avdiivka.[41] On 31 July, the Head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration Vitalii Barabash said that only 10% of the pre-war population of Avdiivka remained, or about 2,500 people.[42]

Ukraine said on 5 August that it lost the Butivka coal mine to Russia that was pushed to the outskirts of Avdiivka.[43][44] On August 7, combat footage showed that Russian forces had reached the centre of Pisky,[45] and they fully captured the entirety of Pisky by 24 August.[46] In early September, several separatist units, including the Sparta Battalion and Somalia Battalion, launched an attack in the wider Avdiivka area, most importantly near Pisky.[4] As of late September, the Wall Street Journal reported that Ukrainian forces "remain[ed] on the defensive" in Avdiivka.[47] On 10 October, Ukraine said Russia was continuing its offensive in Avdiivka and was trying to encircle the city.[48] In mid-January 2023, Russian and DPR forces made an attempt to capture the village of Vodyane, the action was described by a British military blogger as "calamitous".[49]

Later encirclement attempts (March 2023 – October 2023)

In March 2023 Ukrainian commander at Avdiivka said that Russian forces were trying to fully encircle the city.[50] On 24 April, the Ukrainians claimed to have repulsed a Russian attack, and to have killed or wounded 200 Russian soldiers and destroyed 20 pieces of equipment.[51] On 21 May, the Ukrainians claimed to have defeated a mechanized Russian assault near Avdiivka. During the engagement, they claimed to have killed 40 Russian soldiers and to have destroyed 5 armored vehicles, including at least two tanks.[52]

Fighting in the battle intensified during the beginning of the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, with Russian forces putting pressure on the outskirts of the town and Ukrainians digging in.[53] On 10 September 2023, Avdiivka City Military Administration Head Vitaliy Barabash reported that Ukrainian forces had gained a foothold in the urban portion of the village of Opytne 3km southwest of Avdiivka and 2km north of the Donetsk International Airport claiming to secured the southern border of the city, ending a threat of near encirclement.[54][55]

Main effort (10 October 2023 – present)

A shelled residential building in Avdiivka, October 2023

Starting on 10 October, Russian forces attacked the north, west and south of Avdiivka with armoured assault groups and helicopters, supported by artillery.[56] Three motorized rifle brigades of the Russian 8th Combined Arms Army began a concerted offensive action around Avdiivka southwest near Sieverne and northwest near Krasnohorivka and the village of Stepove, near the Avdiivka Coke Plant. Reportedly, all observed Russian units involved in the renewed offensive at the time were members of the Donetsk people's militias, which the 8th CAA absorbed at the start of the invasion.[1]

On 11 October, Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russia initiated 18 combat engagements against the city during the previous 24 hours and that Russian forces launched one missile strike and 36 air strikes, while the Ukrainian air force launched 12 strikes.[3][57] Andrii Kovaliov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian General Staff, reported separately in an interview with Radio Svoboda that Ukrainian forces had prior knowledge of this attempted assault and were prepared beforehand.[58][59] On 12 October, the ISW assessed that Russian forces "have not secured any major breakthrough" and were unlikely to cut off Ukrainian forces due to heavy losses, equivalent to a battalion tactical group in armoured vehicles.[60]

Russian forces maintained days-long assaults, only showing signs of letting up by 16 October when Avdiivka mayor Vitalii Barabash reported that Russian forces only attempted to storm the city 15 times, compared to the 60 time average during the middle of the week.[61] Andriy Serhan, the commander of the 59th Motorized Brigade's drone platoon, said that the Russian assault had failed, but that the Russians were regrouping for another attempt.[6][62][63] Ukrainian sources reported that Russian positions were reinforced with three units based on the DPR militias, the 114th, 15th, and 21st Motor Rifle Brigades while the 30th Motor Rifle Brigade was being kept in reserve.[64]

On 18 October, the 21st Motor Rifle Brigade advanced towards an elevated mound of coke slack (formed from the adjacent Avdiivka Coke Plant) overlooking Avdiika from the north, capturing some forward positions. The Ukrainians claimed to have destroyed 97 Russian tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and armoured personnel carriers while another Ukrainian source claimed that 620 Russian soldiers and 34 units of military equipment were lost on the 18th.[65]

On 19 October, the DPR's "Kluny" Sabotage, Assault and Reconnaissance group made gains north of Spartak and also attempted a frontal assault on Avdiivka with the 1st Motorized Rifle Brigade attacking a fortified restaurant, the "Tsarska Okhota", on the city's south-eastern outskirts. The 9th Motorized Rifle Brigade reported to have advanced "a few hundred" meters in the Vodyane-Netaylove direction. The 114th Motorized Rifle Brigade and 277th Infantry Battalion attacked near Stepove village, north of Avdiivka. The 1454th Motorized Rifle Regiment and the 21st Motorized Rifle Brigade attacked near Kamianka. Lastly, the "Pyatnashka" and "Yugra" volunteer battalions attempted to advance to the N20 highway east of Avdiivka.[66]

On 22 October, the ISW reported that Russian forces were pausing their efforts to regroup and rearm after the "failed" 19 October assaults. A Ukrainian spokesperson, Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, stated that Russian command was shifting more units from the Zaporizhia front to Avdiivka, namely the 6th Motor Rifle Division.[67] Russian and Ukrainian sources also reported that Russia had committed elements of the Redut PMC to Avdiivka, alongside the 106th Airborne.[68] It was also reported on 24 October that Russia had moved elements of its 41st Combined Arms Army to reserve positions near Avdiivka.[2]

On 25 October, a Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian defenders had pushed Russian forces out of the village of Berdychi, located 10km northeast of Avdiivka and west of Stepove.[69] On 26 October Russian milbloggers attributed rain and poor weather for the decrease in intensity of clashes around Avdiivka.[70]

On 28 October, Russian forces captured the slag dump west of the railroad and Avdiivka Coke Plant, considered a tactically important elevation that oversees Avdiivka.[71]. Meanwhile, the commander of the Arbat Battalion confirmed Russia's objective was to capture Avdiivka and also claimed that elements of the Wagner Group PMC had joined the Battalion—which is part of the DPR's "Dikaya Division of Donbas" and the "Pyatnashka Brigade".[5] Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets assessed that Russia had committed the "main force" of the 8th Combined Arms Army, consisting of the DPR's entire 1st Army Corps as well as the Luhansk People's Republic's (LPR) 2nd Army Corps, 20th Motorized Rifle Division, and the 150th Motorized Rifle Division to the Avdiivka front.[5]

On 31 October, Ukrainian Col. Oleksandr Shtupun claimed that Russia had launched a new assault on Avdiivka consisting of Storm-Z penal units.[72]

In early November 2023, the pace of Russian assaults also reportedly decreased to a "creeping offensive" as weather conditions deteriorated and heavy rains and mud complicated reconnaissance and logistics for both armies. The British Ministry of Defence assessed that Russian forces in Avdiivka had likely changed tactics, conducting dismounted infantry-led assaults due to the substantial vehicle losses in the October assaults. Meanwhile, Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian troops were conducting tunnel warfare against Ukrainian positions.[73][74][75]

On 3 November, Ukraine's General Staff said it repelled 17 attacks on and near Avdiivka, while Avdiivka mayor Vitalii Barabash, citing audio transmission intercepts, said the Russians were aiming to capture the fortified coke plant during the battle, as it controls Avdiivka's northern flank.[76] The ISW assessed that between 3-4 November Russian troops had reached the railway tracks north of the plant, consolidating positions as they further approached Stepove village from the east. Russian sources also claimed that an irregular Russian formation named "Dikiya Divisiya" dug a 160-meter-long tunnel underneath an unspecified Ukrainian position and detonated explosives.[73]

On 7-8 November, Russian forces reportedly advanced along the Stepove railway and along Avdiivka's southern flank. Meanwhile, Mayor Barabash said Ukrainian defenders were bracing for a "third wave" of Russian assaults along the eastern axis.[77]

On 10 November, geolocated footage showed that Russian forces had entered eastern Stepove amid heavy Ukrainian resistance.[78] On 13 November, Russian troops advanced in the Avdiivka industrial zone near Yasnynuvata Lane on the city's southern flank, an important frontline fortified area held by Ukraine since 2014.[79][80] Russian sources claimed that by 25 November most or all of the southern industrial zone had been captured.[81]

On 28 November, Russian forces were reportedly advancing upon Avdiivka on "all sides" as ongoing heavy fighting over the Avdiivka Coke Plant was reported.[82][83]

Military casualties

On October 2023, The Washington Post reported that Russian and Ukrainian losses were heavy, with the battle being compared to the battle of Bakhmut that reportedly left tens of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers killed.[71]

Ukrainian claims of Russian casualties

Since Russia's renewed assault on Avdiivka in October 2023, the Ukrainians and Western observers both reported disproportionate Russian losses, claiming that Russia was using "human wave tactics" during the battle.[84][85] One Ukrainian artillery officer alleged Russian commanders were sending their soldiers on near-suicidal assaults.[86]

On 10 October, geolocated footage collated by military analyst Andrew Perpetua, showed 70 Russian and 15 Ukrainian destroyed vehicles. However, Ukrainian sources claimed even higher losses. Total Russian casualties in just one day were claimed by Ukraine high as 34 tanks and 91 other armored vehicles destroyed, with human losses reportedly being 820 killed and 2,400 wounded.[87]

According to an analysis by the Kyiv Post, the Russian 2nd Guards Combined Arms Army has been rendered “combat ineffective” as a result of heavy losses suffered during the offensive in this area. Its worst-hit unit, the 114th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, lost 190 dead and 160 wounded in October, from an initial strength of 1,800 to 2,000 men, of which just 600 to 800 were assigned to “combat duties”. The Ukrainians listed eleven brigades or equivalents under the 2nd CAA’s command which have suffered similar losses, with a total 1,500 front-line soldiers dead and 2,000 seriously wounded out of a total strength (including non-combat troops) of 20,000 to 25,000 men.[88] Meanwhile, according to Ragnar Gudmundsson, an Iceland-based analyst, “Russia hit a probable wartime record of more than 1,400 killed in combat in a single day on Oct. 20 and averaged 900 men a day killed in combat from 10-20 October, coinciding with its push toward Avdiivka, a key city on the eastern front north of Donetsk city”.[89]

On 13 October, according to the Kyiv Post, independent analysts estimates that the Russians suffered losses of 1,000 to 2,000 troops killed or wounded in the first 96 hours of the offensive, along with 30 to 40 tanks and 90 to 100 armored personnel carriers. Meanwhile Ukrainian drone operators reported losses of 100 Russian soldiers and two tanks within the first ten minutes of the fighting with no losses of their own.[90]

On 14 October, Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, claimed that the Russians had lost 3,000 soldiers and 300 pieces of equipment in the past five days since the beginning of the Russian’s offensive.[91] U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, in an October 26, 2023 briefing, reported that fresh Russian troops were being thrown into the battle "under-trained, under-equipped, and unprepared for combat," in "human wave" attacks. Retreating Russian soldiers, the U.S. reported, were apparently being shot by orders of their own commanders. By the end of October, the U.S. was estimating that losses in the fight had cost Russia a battalion's worth of equipment, including "at least" 125 armoured vehicles.[13]

On 20 October, a report by David Axe of Forbes stated that Ukraine's claim of destroying 175 Russian armored vehicles in the previous two days (including 55 tanks) is nearly 20 times higher than the daily average of three Russian tanks destroyed since February 2022. Meanwhile, according to a report from the Euromaidan Press, 65% of the nearly 1,400 Russian soldiers claimed to have been killed on 19 October occurred on just two 5 kilometer segments of the front near Avdiivka. They also stated that these losses are almost 50% higher than the first day of the offensive, although this attack was reportedly not as intense as the first one.[92] Also on 20 October, according to Ukrainian sources, the Russians lost 900 soldiers killed and wounded, as well as 50 tanks and 100 armored vehicles damaged or destroyed. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers operating there also claimed that they had destroyed 200 armored vehicles over the last four days alone.[93][94][95]

On 22 October, the fighting had become so intense that Ukrainian military historian Vasyl Pavlov compared the situation around Avdiivka to the Battles of Rzhev during World War II. “What’s happening around Avdiivka can be compared to a series of events that took place on the Eastern Front during World War II, or let’s say such a well-known event as the Battle of Rzhev,” he claimed in an interview with Espreso TV. In addition, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential administration, told TV Rain that Russia had lost between 5,000 and 6,000 troops in just over a week of their offensive in Avdiivka, as well as 400 armored vehicles. Indeed, according to the Ukrainian military, by 23 October the Russians had been losing as many as 1,000 men killed in action each day during its attempt to take the town, as well as “tens of tanks and armored vehicles”. The recent Russian attacks on Avdiivka “have contributed to a 90% increase in Russian casualties recorded by the Ukrainian MoD (Ministry of Defense),” according to British military intelligence.[65][96][97]

On 28 October, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov claimed that Ukrainian troops had killed 4,000 Russian soldiers in the battle so far, which roughly lines up with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s claim the previous day, that Russia had lost “at least a brigade”(between 2,000 and 8,000 personnel) near Avdiivka.[98]

On 29 October, Ukrainian spokesman, Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, claimed that they had killed 6,500 Russian soldiers and destroyed 100 tanks (including T-90s) and 250 armored vehicles since 10 October. "If we talk about losses in such a short period on a relatively small part of the front line, Avdiivka is already the largest defeat on the part of the Russians," he also stated.[99]

On 10 November, Ukrainian C-in-C Valerii Zaluzhnyi claimed that his troops had killed 10,000 Russians and destroyed 100 tanks, 250 armored vehicles, 50-100 artillery pieces and seven Su-25 planes. Colonel Shuptun, meanwhile, claimed that Russian casualties average between 400 and 600 casualties per day.[100][101]

On 11 November, in a renewed Russian assault on the town, the Ukrainians claimed that the Russians lost 800 men killed or wounded in the last day.[102]

Civilian casualties

Victims of the shelling of the market on 12 October 2022

53 civilians have been killed and wounded in the city since the start of the invasion.

On 8 April, one person was killed and another injured by Russian shelling.[103] On 13 April, one civilian was killed and 12 were wounded in Avdiivka.[104] On 2 May, three civilians were killed due to Russian bombardment.[105] On 3 May 2022, according to a news article on Dutch outlet Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, at least 10 people died and 15 more were injured during an attack on a coking plant. Allegedly, the attack took place after the workers had finished work and were waiting for the bus.[106] On 23 May, Russian shelling and artillery bombarded Avdiivka all night long. Three civilians were injured and 20 houses as well as a kindergarten were damaged severely.[107] On 30 May, one civilian was killed during a street fight in Avdiivka.[108] 2 civilians were killed on June 12.[109] On 5 July, 2 civilians were killed in Avdiivka.[110] One civilian was killed and two wounded on 7 July.[38] One civilian was killed on 6 August.[111] On 12 October 7 civilians were killed and 12 more were injured after a Russian shelling of the city market.[112][113]

By October 2023, 1,000 civilians remained in Avdiivka despite the battle and renewed Russian offensive.[114] On 12 October 2023, an 85 year-old civilian was killed by indiscriminate Russian artillery bombardment of the city, two other civilians would also be injured. Ukraine opened a pre-trial investigation into the attack to determine if it was a war crime as per Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.[115]

Analysis

After Russia renewed its assault on Avdiivka in October 2023, their spearheading assault force reportedly sustained significant losses in personnel and equipment on the northern flank near Krasnohorivka. On 26 October 2023, the Institute for the Study of War assessed that Russia's reported losses around Avdiivka in late October had surpassed the infamous losses in armored vehicles during the battle of Vuhledar.[70] The same day, jailed pro-war Russian nationalist and frequent Putin critic Igor Girkin harshly criticized the offensive capabilities of Russian forces in the battle, arguing they were not able to achieve even limited objectives in favorable conditions without suffering significant casualties.[116]

According to the ISW, several Russian milbloggers proclaimed in early November 2023 that the ongoing battle was already an operational success because it reduced the intensity of Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk city.[117]

See also

References

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  65. 1 2 Russian battle for Avdiivka threatens to become another “meat grinder” www.laprensalatina.com
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  76. ↑ "Russian forces want to capture big coking plant in key town, mayor says". Reuters. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
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  80. ↑ Hird, Karolina; Harward, Christina; Wolkov, Nicole; Mappes, Grace; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (14 November 2023). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 14, 2023". Critical Threats. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023. Geolocated footage posted on November 14 shows that Russian forces have made a marginal advance into the Avdiivka industrial zone near Yasnynuvata Lane, about 1km southeast of Avdiivka.
  81. ↑ Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Mappes, Grace; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W. (26 November 2023). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, November 26, 2023". Critical Threats. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023. Russian milbloggers overwhelmingly claimed that Russian forces captured the entire industrial area near the Yasynuvata-2 railway station on November 26 after clearing the last remaining buildings in the area on November 25
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  85. ↑ "Russia pursues Avdiivka with 'meat assaults' in a replay of Bakhmut". Al Jazeera. 1 November 2023.
  86. ↑ "Ukrainian Artillery Batteries Have Turned The Battle Of Avdiivka Into A Game: Who Can Kill More Russians?". Forbes. 20 November 2023.
  87. ↑ The Russian Army Reportedly Lost 34 Tanks Trying To Cut Off The Ukrainian Garrison In Avdiivka
  88. ↑ Russian Troop Losses Are Likely Near an All-Time High Says Everyone But Kremlin www.kyivpost.com
  89. ↑ Russia Struggles for Symbolic Victory at Avdiivka, Losses Surging to Record Levels www.kyivpost.com
  90. ↑ Worst Russian Land Battle Defeat in Nine Months – Kremlin Forces Hit a Wall at Avdiivka www.kyivpost.com
  91. ↑ RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 15, 2023 www.understandingwar.org
  92. ↑ The Russians May Have Lost 55 Tanks In One Day Trying, And Failing, To Capture Avdiivka www.forbes.com
  93. ↑ General Staff: Russia renews attacks at Avdiivka, suffers casualties kyivindependent.com
  94. ↑ RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 20, 2023 www.understandingwar.org
  95. ↑ Russia Steps Up Assault on Avdiivka, Ukraine ‘Kills 900 Troops in One Day’ www.kyivpost.com
  96. ↑ ‘Particularly Tough’ – Russia’s Avdiivka Assault Contained, More Forces Incoming www.kyivpost.com
  97. ↑ Russia taking heavy losses as it wages new offensive in Ukraine abcnews.go.com
  98. ↑ Umerov: Russia has lost 4,000 soldiers in battle for Avdiivka kyivindependent.com
  99. ↑ Russian death toll near Avdiivka amounts to almost 6,500 since Oct 10 www.ukrinform.net
  100. ↑ 10,000 soldiers and 7 Su-25s: Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief names losses of Russians near Avdiivka
  101. ↑ RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, NOVEMBER 10, 2023
  102. ↑ Frontline report: Russia launched third wave of its offensive in Avdiivka, increasing the number and intensity of attacks
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  111. ↑ "Russia Begins Fresh Assault in Eastern Ukraine". 6 August 2022.
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  113. ↑ "Росіяни в Авдіївці убили 7 мирних жителів за добу". Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-11-07.
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