As winter settles in, the embattled Ukrainian city of Avdiivka finds itself at the heart of an intensified conflict, with Russian forces employing a strategy reminiscent of past brutal offensives. The city, marked by destruction and despair, is currently surrounded on three fronts, showcasing the relentless battle for control in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland.
Recent reports indicate that Russian troops are throwing what are described as “waves” of soldiers into the fray, incurring staggering losses as they attempt to capture this strategically vital area. Ukrainian soldiers stationed there recount a grim scene, with corpses littering the fields and a sense of futility permeating the conflict. “They are trying to exhaust our lines with constant waves of attacks,” one Ukrainian battalion deputy, known only as Oleksandr for security reasons, explained. The situation is a stark reminder of the conflict's escalating brutality, which has persisted for over 21 months.
Located just a few miles from the frontline, Avdiivka has become symbolic of a grueling war with no clear victor. Once a lively coal hub with a pre-war population of 30,000, it now exists as a shadow of its former self, inhabited mainly by the elderly and those unable to evacuate. The daily persistence of Russian military operations includes relentless artillery bombardments, further reducing the city to rubble. Even in its dire state, about 1,500 residents remain, relying on meager aid from relief convoys.
The battle for Avdiivka has seen considerable shifts in tactics, particularly from the Russian military, which recently shifted from armored assaults to infantry-based strategies. In October, Moscow’s forces attempted a large-scale encirclement using hundreds of armored vehicles, a move that ended disastrously with the loss of more than 200 vehicles, according to Western military sources. Undeterred, Russia is now resorting to overwhelming Ukrainian positions with sheer numbers of infantry in hopes of breaking the defensive lines.
Many Russian soldiers, as described by a drone operator who goes by the call sign “Trauma,” are executed in waves, often with a gruesome efficiency that evokes imagery from horror films. “Some die, others keep on coming. It’s like a zombie movie,” he shared, highlighting the eerie persistence of the assault despite heavy casualties.
The situation mirrors the catastrophic campaign for Bakhmut earlier this year, where Russian forces employed tactics of sheer manpower, including units formed largely from convicts recruited by the Wagner Group. Those battles were characterized by terms such as “meat grinder,” indicative of the staggering loss of life for Russian troops. Conceptually, Avdiivka is following the same tragic trajectory where losses are incurred on both sides without substantial territorial gains.
As fighting intensifies near Avdiivka, Russian forces maintain control over several strategic points around the city, slowly tightening the noose around Ukrainian defenses. As of recently reported, the Russian military has closed in on a giant coking plant in the area, bringing it dangerously close to cutting off the last Ukrainian supply lines.
It's worth noting that Ukraine's forces, though under immense pressure, have proven resilient. The Ukrainian General Staff has reported repelling numerous Russian attacks in recent hours. Currently, Ukrainians maintain a strip of defensive territory extending eight kilometers from Avdiivka towards the northwest, which is crucial for logistical support and troop movements.
Admirably, despite the overwhelming odds, Oleksandr emphasized that there is no intention to withdraw. “We have enough troops to hold the line and defend our city,” he affirmed, displaying a tenacity that many have come to admire in the face of adversity. The ferocity of battle has cultivated a fierce determination among Ukrainian defenders, who remain steadfast in their commitment to resist the encroaching forces.
The current situation in Avdiivka serves as a microcosm of the broader war strategy employed by Russia, focusing on incremental advances with minimal regard for the human costs involved. As the winter months approach, the stakes in this frozen conflict raise more than just regional tensions; they highlight the resilience and suffering of people caught in the crossover of military tactics, where human lives appear secondary to territorial ambitions. The ongoing battles underscore the complexities of war where the front lines may shift, but the struggles of civilians and soldiers remain painfully visible and chronically unresolved.
With both sides engaged in a bitter fight, the outcomes in places like Avdiivka will likely have ripple effects far beyond its borders, feeding into the larger geopolitical narrative surrounding the Ukrainian conflict. The question that looms is whether the world will respond to the continuing bloodshed or remain spectators to an ongoing tragedy. As Oleksandr put it, “We are here to hold firm. There is no option to give up.”
