Russian Army Destroys Another Defense Line Near Avdeevka, Storms Three Settlements (Map, Photos)

File image.

The Russian military has destroyed the second line of defense of Kiev forces to the west and northwest of the strategic city of Avdeevka in the Donetsk direction, and captured the settlements of Orlivka, Berdychi and Tonenke.

The three settlements were stormed by Russian troops earlier this week and were later fully captured, several news sources confirmed on February 29.

In its latest briefing, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that the Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of Ukraine’s 53rd, 61st mechanized and 59th motorized infantry brigades to the west and northwest of Avdeevka.

Up to 495 Ukrainian troops, seven main battle tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, four armored fighting vehicles and 11 motor vehicles were neutralized, according to the ministry, which also said that three D-20 towed howitzers, two D-30 towed howitzers, one Msta-B towed howitzer and one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers were destroyed by Russian counter-battery fire.

Click to see full-size map. Source: (@Suriyakmaps) on Twitter, Via Google Maps – TerraMetrics.

Kiev forces reportedly withdrew from Orlivka towards the settlement of Umansky. However, they suffered heavy losses as a result of Russian artillery fire. There were also reports of the Ukrainian artillery pounding their own troops as they retreated from Orlivka.

Near Berdychi and Tonenke, a number of Ukrainian troops were trapped in two small pockets as they didn’t have enough time to abandon their positions in the outskirts of the two settlements.

Orlivka, Berdychi and Tonenke and the nearby settlement of Semenovka were considered Ukraine’s second line of defense to the northwest and west of Avdeevka. Now only one of these four key settlements is still under the full control of Kiev forces.

The Russian offensive in the Donetsk direction, which is led by the Tsentr Group of Forces, is gaining momentum. Meanwhile, it is still unclear if Kiev forces had prepared any defenses behind their second line of defense.

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