From "The Analyst":
AVDIVKA FIGHTING RETREAT COSTS RUSSIA DEARLY
Ukraine continues to hold two villages so that Russian forces are not given the opportunity to gain any momentum, as defending forces withdraw to their prepared defence lines on the river behind them. Much of the ground is open terrain.
The incredible operation to take down the A50-U AWACS plane - which may have used some kind of modified S200 long range anti-air missile used in the earlier days of the Cold War for bomber defence, has had a dramatic consequence.
Ukrainian intelligence said that five aircraft already en-route on bombing missions were instantly recalled. This confirms the AWACS was being used for target acquisition and threat assessment against the aircraft, as well as confirming the operational detection range of the AWACS, along with the sophistication level of its radar.
The Russians have been using groups of infantry, usually about ten strong, to push into the area as Ukraine withdraws. Ukraine has been using snipers to take them out with considerable success. This led to the Russians starting to use armour to support the infantry.
During the attacks on Avdivka the Russians used long range mine rockets to try and block the Ukrainians from withdrawing - however these were used after they’d already left.
The Russians failed to communicate and their armour started running into their own mines, taking out almost a dozen vehicles.
Ukraine continues to withdraw to its defence line, but this is unlikely to be where Russia will push harder. The real threat is from Bakhmut all the way to Kupiansk- multiple axis of attack are under way as Russia pushes hard to find a weak spot.
Slava Ukraini !
