Copyright © 2024 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Frontline report: Ukraine lost positions on Terrikon, a mount south of Avdiivka

However, this is an unfavorable development for Ukrainians. They conducted a counterattack from the south towards Pisky. So far, Ukrainian forces managed to advance toward the fortification under the bridge.
Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.
Frontline report: Ukraine lost positions on Terrikon, a mount south of Avdiivka

Day 606

On 22 October, there were a lot of updates from the Avdiivka direction. Here, Russian forces raised the stakes even higher and conducted another massive attack in the north, while Ukrainians conducted a powerful counterattack in the south, threatening to undermine the whole Russian offensive operation.

First of all, when it comes to the northern part of the region, as expected, the main target of Russian forces became Terrikon. During the last attack, Russian forces only managed to establish control over a couple of tree lines in front of the mount, which did not change the situation a lot, from the tactical perspective.

Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.

However, the Russians understood it as well. They knew that they were going to lose these gains very rapidly unless they doubled down immediately with the same intensity to leverage their new positions in front of the mount.

Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.

That is why Russians gathered forces for a new wave of attacks and tried to break into Terrikon at all costs, despite the fact that they would suffer from fire from almost all directions while trying to drive up the passage onto the first and second floors of this heap.

Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.

Geolocated footage shows how dozens and dozens of Russian tanks and armoured fighting vehicles are heading from Krasnohorivka and Vesele to Terrikon.

As you can see, the closest entrance to Terrikon is very far away from the Russian side, so in order to break into the region, they need to completely expose their flanks by driving right in front of the Ukrainian firing positions. On top of that, the Ukrainian artillery also does not need additional corrections and is ready to fire at the roads the moment Russian columns get close.

Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.

As you can see, Russian forces have already lost dozens of vehicles on the same spot in previous attacks. Nonetheless, the new assault unit was sent to push through the death zone. Russians suffered mindboggling losses and continued to bury their assault units in front of the mount. Ukrainian fighters from the 110 Brigade, who are responsible for this section, reported that their drone operators use multiple crates of grenades every day due to the sheer number of targets.

Other sources reported that Ukrainian artillery is firing more than 3 times more shells per day than previously. Russian forces also tried to support their offensive efforts with aviation. Russian air defence system shot down their own helicopter Mi-8, killing the whole crew.

Russian sources also reported that Russians lost a battalion commander during one of the attacks.

Some Russian analysts claimed that one of the goals of Russian forces was to force Ukrainians to run out of shells and bullets.

Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.

It seems like it is partially true because despite the incurred losses, Russians managed to overwhelm Ukrainians, and several Russian armoured fighting vehicles reportedly got onto the mount and started storming Ukrainian positions.

Ukrainian fighters reported that the remnants of this assault unit were eventually liquidated, but it seems like the Russians damaged firing positions on Terrikon, so Ukrainians stepped back, both sides established fire control, and now no one physically controls the mount.

This is an unfavourable development for Ukrainians because they lost a tactical advantage and are now at the same elevation. Moreover, if Russians establish control over the heap in a future attack, then they will set the conditions for the encirclement from the north.

Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.

Luckily, the Ukrainian commanders did not plan to stay passive in hopes that Russians would not be able to advance. As you remember, the Ukrainian High Command recently had several important meetings with the forces on the ground to plan their next moves, and it seems like the topic of the meeting was a counterattack from the south.

On 22 October, Russian sources reported that Ukrainians conducted a powerful counterattack from the south. The goal of the counterattack is to advance towards Pisky and, ideally, even further.

Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.

This way, Ukrainians will cut off Russian forces in Vodiane and Opytne from the mainland, eliminating the bridgehead that Russians were building all this time to set conditions for the encirclement from the south.

Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.

If this attack is successful, Russian advances in the north will lose their operational significance, and yet another encirclement operation will fail.

So far, Ukrainians managed to advance toward the fortification under the bridge, and as Russian sources reported, the pressure on Pisky increases with every second.

Map: Screenshot from a Reporting From Ukraine video.

In our daily frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!

    Related Posts
    Read More

    Frontline report: Ukraine’s complex drone and missile strike on Crimea exposes positions of Russian air defense

    On 12 August 2023, Ukrainian Air Force conducted a complex drone and missile strike on Crimea. Ukraine attacked western Crimea with a group of cheap drones, while Crimean bridge with two missile attacks. While there is little information about damage, Ukrainians collected valuable information about Russia's air defense.