[Dargo]

A list of Russian brigades and formations that were thrown at Avdiivka. It took tens of thousands of top fighters and four months to create numerical superiority and break through the Ukrainian defence, which lacked ammunition. Many of these Russian brigades lost 60%+ of personnel.

The congratulatory telegram that Vladimir Putin sent to the commander of the Center Group, Colonel General Mordvichev, in connection with the capture of Avdiivka reveals the units that participated in the active phase of the operation.

• 30th separate motorized rifle brigade of the Central Military District
• 35th separate motorized rifle brigade of the Central Military District
• 55th separate motorized rifle mountain brigade of the Central Military District
• 74th separate motorized rifle brigade of the Central Military District
• 1st separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st AC
• 9th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st AC
• 114th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 1st AC
• 1454th motorized rifle regiment
• 10th Tank Regiment of the 1st AK
• 6th Tank Regiment of the 90th Tank Division of the Central Military District
• 80th Tank Regiment of the 90th Tank Division of the Central Military District
• 239th Tank Regiment of the 90th Tank Division of the Central Military District

On our own behalf, we would also add that the "Veterans" brigade, which partially involved Army special units, and the Air and Space Forces, participated. Thus, more than 15 formations of the Central Military District and the 1st Army Corps of the DPR participated in the Avdeevka operation. https://twitter.com/wartranslated/st...56055319515303

Casualty wise (WIA&KIA) Bahkmut was likely higher. Deaths only wise, Avdiivka was likely 2x worse for the Russians than Bahkmut. The easiest way to explain why is Terrain, and the built up fortifications. Even in the areas at the flanks. The opening day of RUs offensive in our sector over a dozen BMPs were destroyed before they even got within 800m of Ukrainian lines. The infantry on and in that initial assault were caught out in the open and mowed down rather quickly.

One defensive operation that we were on, 16 of Chosen and 8 Ukrainians(javelin teams+snipers) destroyed 4 BMPs, damaged one that made it under a bridge with 6 others that escaped unharmed after dropping troops 300m+ away from the line in the field, 2 BTRs destroyed, 2 tanks one of which was destroyed by one of the craziest tank maneuvers by a UA tank team i ever saw and 70+ infantry killed or wounded.
The Russians successfully pushed us out of the trench to another friendly trench (there was only 10 defenders in that 1 trench with reserve force and supporting fires/overwatch being provided from nearby trench 200m away) and took control of the trench. Which was then blown with demolitions, fpv and artillery once the surviving russians (around 12) grouped up into it.

Our losses that day were 4 UA KIA, 2 Chosen KIA (Gander & Stremski) and everyone minor or moderately wounded with frag. The human cost of Russia's Avdiivka sector endeavor likely cost them 100k WIA&KIA easily. Day after day for 2 or 3 weeks they continously attempted to run armor at fortified lines. In our sector, after they ran out of BMPs&BTRs they used troop transport trucks(Kamaz type) to try and get infantry as close as possible. These vehicles more often then not were hit by fpv or drones waited for dismount and hit infantry with droppers. We made it a point to try and hit every enemy soldier still alive. If they crawled into a bunker, thermobaric. If they were crawling in an open field, grenade drop.

Mid to end Nov though, something changed. No longer were the Russians attempting 50+ men assaults. They'd move in groups of 8-12 men. If 2 or 3 made it, they'd hide amongst the rubble. The next group would move 5-15 minutes behind the first and they'd do the same. Once the survivors regrouped and had 20 or so men spread in 2 or more positions, they'd then push forward while a new rear element pushed up from behind and they'd mass creeping fires and drones while doing so. Only stopping once the RU infantry were within 25-50m of our positions.

They adapted their tactics to run as a mass of smaller human waves with less armor and more foot infantry to knock out a few meters of the killing fields or Grey area at a time. They didn't try to dig in. They just hid wherever they could. One position we consistently fought over ended up with dead soldiers stacked around it (obj kyiv). There was well over 100 Russians strewn about infront and inside of it. Our fallen(KIA) Ukrainians around 10 or so that were taken in the 3 weeks of holding it, we had organized to the rear area of the fighting line, in hopes of getting their remains out, some we were able to, others we werent. We did take dozens upon dozens of wounded trying to hold obj k and took a lot of wounded and killed trying to retrieve remains of fallen and wounded soldiers from positions(I'd say 20-35% of all our wounded in the sector was trying to get remains or wounded out). You'd spend more time trying to organize where to throw the dead or move the dead out of firing lines than attempting to rebuild the positions daily.

The Ukrainian units fought and are still fighting extremely hard in the sector that Chosen was in. We are in the middle of a unit transfer, so Chosen is no longer there.

One main factor that you could see become a detriment was time off the front. The 59th and other units in the sector have never had a rotation off the front. Which physically and mentally does effect the fighting capacity. By the end of 2023 Chosen members were all injured atleast once and most of us were doing operations at 80% ability. We had men(Hound I love you brother) going out with gaping fragmentation wounds bandaged from a injury a week earlier. None of this was forced on us however. We would check ourselves out of the hospital to continue the fight. And the Ukrainians were much the same. Hell, our commander Kozak consistently put off medical so he could stay on the front and coordinate and fight. We had a drone pilot get 6 or 7 contusions including from TOS1s twice in one day who basically was in a permanent shuttle of hospital, checking himself out, fly drones, back to hospital.

The fighting spirit of the men in our sector is nothing short of heroic, but it is not a long term benefit to fighting capabilities doing what Chosen and the Ukrainians were doing. Sheer will and determination only goes so far. https://twitter.com/ihatetrenches/st...25982922825728

Originally Posted by The Ukrainian General Staff

Estimated total losses of the Russians during the offensive on Avdiivka 47186 military personnel (likely death and wounded), 364 tanks, 748 armoured vehicles, 248 artillery systems and 5 planes. In just over 4 months time.