Doomed Russian Troops Attacked Avdiivka in Decrepit 70-Year-Old Vehicles

Recent imagery from the battlefield in Avdiivka, Ukraine, indicates that Russian troops engaged in the ill-fated attempt to retake the town did so using antiquated, 70-year-old vehicles.

In one of the recorded photos, an obliterated BTR-50, a Soviet-era armored personnel carrier (APC) originating from 1952, was spotted. The BTR-50's thin armor, maxing out at a meager 13 millimeters of cold-welded steel, falls significantly short of modern military standards, leaving it vulnerable to contemporary anti-tank weaponry. Its flat hull also offers minimal protection against mine explosions.

These vehicles were a mainstay during the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, involving conflicts between Israel and neighboring Arab nations, which were backed by the Soviet Union.

While more advanced APC models have been developed since the BTR-50 era, Russia's sustained losses in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict have necessitated the deployment of outdated military equipment and tanks, initially intended for auxiliary roles but later repurposed for assaults.

During the recent encirclement operation in Avdiivka, Russian forces faced a resounding defeat, as Ukrainian troops, fortified with artillery and anti-tank missile batteries, successfully repelled the attackers. The aftermath revealed 428 incapacitated Russian army units, including 75 tanks, 88 infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers, and 163 pieces of artillery.

Despite a temporary reduction in hostilities, officials in the region caution that further aggressive actions from Russian forces are anticipated. Recent reports suggest increased Russian airstrikes, indicating a shift in strategy towards aerial assaults rather than ground offensives.

Additional troops from the Central Military District (CMD), including the 15th and 21st Motorized Rifle Brigades, have bolstered the ranks of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) volunteer forces near Avdiivka. Russian forces from the CMD’s 30th Motorized Rifle Brigade remain on standby, having previously held a defensive position along the Svatove-Kreminna line.

While some territorial progress has been made by Russian forces near Avdiivka, it has been relatively slower compared to initial attacks. The Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) General Staff has reported a decrease in infantry assaults, with Russian troops compensating for this slowdown by intensifying air and artillery strikes.