Fighting For Avdiivka: Ukrainian General Tells Why Putin Throws All Forces Into City Takeover

The Bakhmut scenario is repeating itself.

For almost two months, Russian troops have been actively trying to take control of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. The occupiers are literally "coming from all directions", losing equipment and manpower en masse.

The situation is somewhat similar to what happened earlier near Bakhmut, because the capture of these two cities is purely a propaganda objective that the Kremlin command has set for the Russian armed forces. This opinion was expressed in an interview with OBOZ.UA by the former deputy chief of the General Staff of the AFU, Lieutenant-General Ihor Romanenko.

According to him, the AFU can maintain control over Avdiivka until the maintenance of this city becomes militarily inexpedient in terms of our losses, resources and prospects.

"As long as there is a possibility of maintaining control, we will use it," Romanenko said.

He says the enemy is trying with all its might to take Avdiivka because Russian dictator Vladimir Putin made such a political decision, which a group of occupiers led by Russian army general Valery Gerasimov is now trying to implement.

"A deadline was set for the capture of Avdiivka by 4 November, but as we can see, they have not been able to meet it. Everything else will depend on a number of factors. The weather conditions are not conducive to an offensive, and the enemy is mainly using infantry and air strikes. Of course, our logistical support has also become more complicated. But as long as we have the means, we will defend Avdiivka," the military expert said.

He agreed that in the case of Avdiivka, the scenario of Bakhmut was being repeated, where the political component of the occupiers also prevailed over the military. Russia then threw all its forces into capturing the heroic city for propaganda purposes, but from a military point of view it did not yield any results. The lieutenant-general is sure that the same situation will occur in Avdiivka.

Asked whether the AFU could use the same tactics to establish control over individual settlements, Romanenko said: "If there are opportunities for strikes and infantry advances, they will be used, but this requires forces and resources.

"Striking forces, artillery and aviation, for their part, need shells, ammunition, which unfortunately we have in limited quantities. Next, we can use infantry. But for us, such significant losses as the enemy has are unacceptable. We have other options," he said.