(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . More Russian stuff blowing up: ATACMS missiles take out 3 Russian S-400 air defense systems [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-10-26 The situation in Avdiivka remains critical. The problem is that despite taking horrendous casualties, the Russians are throwing so many resources into this battle that they are gaining ground. Ukraine has moved a mechanized brigade with Bradleys and Leopard tanks from the Robotyne area to Avdiivka but more reinforcements are necessary. This should not be allowed to become Bakhmut 2.0. Russia will gladly sacrifice 20-30,000 soldiers to take a prize like Avdiivka. x Butusov, a Ukrainian journalist, talked this morning about the situation worsening in Avdiivka. Russians are hoping to establish a foothold in the Coke plant building north of Avdiivka, and are also pushing from the south.https://t.co/thz2Z0Qenq pic.twitter.com/nfM2nCzSPq — Dmitri (@wartranslated) October 26, 2023 On October 25, the Russian command continued its assault along the entire perimeter of the defense of Avdiyivka, and along a narrow corridor from the village of Krasnohorivka to the north of the city. The Russian infantrymen were shelled with all kinds of weapons, the enemy was well seen. The Russians rotated and replaced the knocked out assault units, and threw reserves into battle. Units of the 110th mechanized brigade successfully repelled all attacks directly on Avdiivka. But the situation north of Avdiivka seriously worsened. Despite heavy losses, the Russian assault units north of Avdiivka advanced along the railway track, occupied an area up to 1 km wide, trying to expand the controlled corridor and create conditions for the concentration of forces and further offensive in the direction of Stepove-Berdychi, and in the direction of the industrial zone of the Avdiivka coke plant. This is a very serious threat that needs maximum attention. The enemy hopes to gain a foothold in the factory building and gain a bridgehead to enter the city. To the south of Avdiivka, Russian troops continue their attacks with the aim of seizing a sand quarry near the village of Opytne. Since the rate of losses for the Russian group near Avdiivka is unacceptable, the Russian command withdraws significant forces from the Kupyansk direction to continue the infantry attacks. Avdiyivka has much more strategic importance for Ukraine than even Bakhmut. The Russian command will want to show success here at any cost. The tactical situation for the destruction of Russian assault formations is very favorable here. But our advantages must be realized in full. It is not the number of people in uniform that can stop the Russian infantry, and not the number of different units and flags on the map, but qualitatively organized, coordinated and controlled fresh units. And all such reserves are needed right here in order to destroy the Russians precisely in the narrow corridor in which they are fighting. I hope that all the necessary reserves that we have will be directed to the Avdiivka district. The situation in Avdiivka is escalating and there is a battle going on, in which the enemy is throwing its main forces, a battle that we, if necessary, have every chance of winning if we concentrate our forces. But this requires quick, timely and systematic actions, not words and wishes. This soldier’s analysis is spot on. NOTE: I changed the last paragraph to reflect a better translation. x Avdiivka 🇺🇦 I agree with him. We watch ruzZia destroy Ukrainian cities one by one. No US carrier in the Black Sea supporting Ukrainian forces. No European coalition to fight ruzZia. No F35s. Apparently, what ruzZia is doing is not terrorism.#lviv pic.twitter.com/rUWUqArpMF — TheLvivJournal (@LvivJournal) October 26, 2023 Almost in two years of the war we got used to the destruction, to the fact that every day we are shown or we see with our own eyes the devastation that the Russian federation is carrying. Here in Avdiivka after many Ukrainian cities that were destroyed by the Russians, Bakhmut, Soledar,and many others, the worst feeling is that it is already a habit. This tragedy, the [ongoing] tragedy of the Ukrainian people, for some reason, is already perceived as normality. In fact, it is scary. It’s not all bad news from Avdiivka, however. x Oct. 26, 2023: Update on Avdiivka The below map of the situation in Avdiivka as of yesterday (25/10/2023) shows a serious threat to the AFU in the area of the Coke Plant 1) The Russians now control a corridor from #Krasnohorivka to the railroad tracks west of there that… pic.twitter.com/hepDAChfEJ — OSINT (Uri) 🇺🇦 (@UKikaski) October 26, 2023 Russian losses have been so significant in Avdiivka, including over the last two days, that they are forced to bring in a third round of reserves from the #Kupyansk sector. They have also transitioned from armored combined arms assaults to a hybrid strike formation with less armor and more infantry afoot -- i.e., semi-meat waves. This gives the AFU a huge advantage as the Russians are still crammed into small corridors meaning the conditions for the defenders remain favorable. The post below is interesting, if true. The problem with withdrawing from Avdiivka is both political and strategic. Avdiivka has been so well fortified since 2014 that it is possible to hold the lines around the city with fewer troops. Withdrawal means turning over those fortifications to the Russians and needing more troops to man the new defensive lines west of the city. Politically, withdrawal would be a blow to Ukrainian morale, would give ammunition to the tanks and House Republicans wanting to cut aid and would overshadow the hard-fought gains near Robotyne that Ukraine made. x Our sources said that today at the war cabinet they discussed the defense of Avdiivka and Zaluzhny’s proposal to withdraw troops from the city. Present: Zaluzhny Syrsky, Tarnavsky, Gnatov, Moskalev, Sodol, Minister of Defense Umerov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate… pic.twitter.com/DRL4NAJlOf — Just A Tweeter 💫 (@Just_A_Tweeter_) October 26, 2023 Our sources said that today at the war cabinet they discussed the defense of Avdiivka and Zaluzhny’s proposal to withdraw troops from the city. Present: Zaluzhny Syrsky, Tarnavsky, Gnatov, Moskalev, Sodol, Minister of Defense Umerov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Budanov, head of the SBU Malyuk.“ Frank conversation on the most important topics,” the president said today. In reality, Zelensky refused to withdraw troops now, so as not to disappoint Western partners; it was decided to hold Avdiivka and organize a counterattack on the flanks. Ukraine used ATACMS missiles to wipe out at least three Russian S-400 air defense missile systems in Luhansk. Russia had posted video of pieces of the missile that they found and claimed they shot down the ATACMS. x Russian Telegram channels report that the video shows the destruction of three Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile complexes. Yesterday, Shoigu reported that the Russian army destroyed ATACMS missiles. https://t.co/tixzwsUXfD pic.twitter.com/ELygBuU6Kk — Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) October 26, 2023 This would be good news. x Ukraine expects to receive new 300 km range missiles as early as next January, per VoA journalist citing a Ukraine General Staff source. The range suggests possible newer ATACMS variants. https://t.co/Xx9s6xeCc0 — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) October 26, 2023 A JDAM pulverized this military storage garage. x ⚡️🇺🇦JDAM destroyed garages with hidden 🇷🇺Russian electronic warfare systems in the village of Novohorivka, Zaporizhzhia region https://t.co/KDkOVJ5Xcd — 🇺🇦Ukrainian Front (@front_ukrainian) October 26, 2023 I haven’t felt badly about 98% of the Russian soldiers who have been killed in this war. The war will not end until the army they are cogs in is utterly defeated. But I do feel sorry for this Russian’s death. x "Elena Sadkova was a doctor who decided to go to war and treat Russians wounded in battles with Ukrainians. The woman died right at the training ground, never reaching the front line..." Ciao Ciao ruZka.#lviv pic.twitter.com/fPQbalRwIj — TheLvivJournal (@LvivJournal) October 26, 2023 This job is going to go on in Ukraine for decades. This is like turning over the United States government to Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. x ⚡️ Slovak PM Robert Fico rules out military aid for Ukraine. Slovakia's newly-appointed Prime Minister Robert Fico said his country would no longer send arms to Ukraine and vowed to promote this stance also on the European level, the Guardian reported on Oct. 26. — The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) October 26, 2023 x April 2022: Robert Fico was facing criminal charges in Slovakia, together with his former interior minister, Robert Kalinak. They were charged with creating a criminal group. Now the gang is back as the Slovak government.https://t.co/7syGukLJ9L — Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) October 25, 2023 Israel is condemning Russia for hosting a conference with Hamas. This is the same Israeli government that has refused to provide military aid to Ukraine for fear of angering Russia. x Response of 🇮🇱 Foreign Ministry to Russia hosting representatives of Hamas today: “Israel sees the invitation of senior Hamas officials to Moscow as an obscene step that gives support to terrorism and legitimizes the atrocities of Hamas terrorists".https://t.co/DPesmEn7Lk — Aleksandar Djokic (Александар Джокич) (@polidemitolog) October 26, 2023 This is one of the Tuvans that Russia has been using to send radio messages in their language, thinking it is like the Native American Code Talkers from WWII. x Sladkov says that the Tuvan Private Sharpshooter was wounded during a "secret assignment" and is in hospital. pic.twitter.com/SL3iZ8gDE8 — Dmitri (@wartranslated) October 26, 2023 x 🤣 There was no doubt that the occupiers’ “golden people” looked something like this. Z ruzzian propagandist Gladkov says he is sitting next to the “golden man.”#RussianArmy pic.twitter.com/GSMfxp9s5I — ✙ Albina Fella ✙ 🇺🇦🇬🇧🇫🇷🇩🇪🇵🇱🇺🇸🇨🇦🇦🇺 (@albafella1) October 21, 2023 The power of “home” is strong, but there comes a time when you have to leave. x It’s hard to hold back tears🥺❤️‍🩹 This elderly woman, along with her beloved cat Mashka, lives in a war-damaged house in #Avdiivka. For 30 years, she worked as a teacher of the Ukrainian language and literature. 📹: @libkos pic.twitter.com/HRptsALe0G — KyivPost (@KyivPost) October 26, 2023 They need some combat Kats. But here’s a mouse we can feel sorry for. x Poor little mouse 💔 A field mouse climbed onto the ammunition of a Russian kamikaze drone and accompanied the flight until the last moment. Nothing is known about the fate of the animal. And the drone successfully hit the enemy position.#Ukraine #Russia#UkraineRussiaWar… pic.twitter.com/hfz8EEgneE — Just A Tweeter 💫 (@Just_A_Tweeter_) October 26, 2023 On a lighter note. 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