A crack unit of assault troops are being billed as Ukraine‘s “last hope” of repelling Vladimir Putin‘s forces from a key town.
Ukraine‘s Third Assault Brigade has reportedly been rushed to Avdiivka in the Donbas region, in a last-ditch attempt to reinforce the troops fighting off Russia.
According to reports, Avdiivka has been the centre of the most “hellish” fighting so far.
A day of fierce fighting on the frontline was reported on Thursday, with nearly 100 separate battles between Volodymyr Zelensky‘s defence forces and the Russian invaders.
Kyiv officials said Russia also launched 34 missile attacks and 85 airstrikes – which it claimed had killed civilians, destroyed private buildings and damaged educational institutions.
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An Armed Forces of Ukraine spokesperson said: “During the past day, there were 95 battles. In total, the enemy carried out 34 missiles and 85 air strikes, carried out 114 shelling from volcano fire jet systems across the positions of our troops and settlements.
“As a result of the Russian terrorist attacks, unfortunately, there are wounded and killed among the civilian population. Demolition and damage were suffered by multi-storey and private buildings, educational institutions and critical infrastructure objects.”
The increasing ferocity of the Russian attacks comes as the White House warns that the strategically important city of Avdiivka is at risk of falling due to Ukraine‘s forces running low on artillery ammunition.
However, the elite Third Assault Brigade has now arrived at Avdiivka – and is the city’s “last hope” – reports The Independent. This special-purpose brigade comprised of assault infantry was created by the merger of Azov SSO (Special Operations Forces) units and features former Azov Battalion veterans.
On the Telegram messenger app, a Third Assault Brigade source said: “The enemy is continuing the active rotation of its troops [around Avdiivka] and is deploying new forces and equipment to the town.
“The situation at the moment the brigade was brought in was extremely critical.”
Maksym Zhorin, the Third Assault Brigade’s deputy commander, said on Telegram: “The battles in Avdiivka are many times more hellish than the hottest battles of this phase of the war, which were in Bakhmut.”
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