Ukraine War 1/25: Russia suddenly "came out of the ground" to raid Avdiivka

Ukrainian soldiers on the front line (Illustration photo: Sky news).

Russian troops collapse Ukrainian defense lines south of Avdiivka

Geroman channel reported that Ukrainian sources confirmed that the Russian army used an old pipeline to cross the southern defense line of Avdiivka and then suddenly "came out from underground" to attack Kiev forces from behind.

Some say the pipeline is 2km long, others say 4km, however, it was a huge surprise for the Kiev defenders that they were caught off guard when Russian soldiers appeared behind the lines and surrounded them. As a result, the solid and sturdy fortification line that had been continuously reinforced for the past 10 years collapsed quickly.

Notably, Russian forces had previously carried out a similar raid to capture an industrial zone further east in the city of Avdiivka.

Map of the Ukrainian war in southern Avdiivka as of January 24. Russia controls the brown area, the red circle is the mouth of the pipeline located behind the Ukrainian defense line in the blue box (Photo: Geroman).

Geroman detailed that on January 17, an elite Russian assault force marched through the pipeline behind Ukrainian lines and then emerged from underground to attack Tsarskaya Okhota. A few weeks ago, the pipeline looked even more “apocalyptic,” completely flooded and littered with waste accumulated after years of abandonment.

The first dives there were so dangerous because no one knew the condition of the pipeline and in case of emergency its length did not allow leaving in time, so much so that the commander of the reconnaissance force personally retraced the route, repeatedly going to the end of the line to confirm that there was no danger to the soldiers.

Russian scouts did the huge job, clearing the frozen water pipes for weeks, day and night, by hand, without machinery to avoid noise.

All this for a unique opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the enemy. Russian scouts passed through the pipeline without making a sound, circled behind enemy lines, and then suddenly attacked, killing many enemy soldiers and taking many prisoners.

Russian soldiers cleared the pipeline, creating a surprise attack from behind that left Ukrainian forces unable to react (Photo: Geroman).

Ukraine counterattacks heavily in south Avdiivka

The situation south of Avdivka is very contradictory, as the Ukrainian army has sent reinforcements and launched counterattacks in the urban area captured by Russian troops over the past two days, and now it seems that the Russian army has managed to hold the line, Suriyakmaps reported.

A similar situation is occurring in the east of the city where Russian troops have launched a new offensive on enemy trenches along the road south of Kam'yanka but Kiev forces are still present in the surrounding rural houses.

Meanwhile, north of Avdivka, Ukrainian troops counterattacked and recaptured several positions northwest of Stepove and adjacent to the railway.

Ukrainian forces counterattacked north of Avdiivka and recaptured several positions from Russian troops (Photo: SGS).

The Ukrainian General Staff reports on the 700th day of combat operations.

Ukrainska Pravda reported that the Ukrainian General Staff said on the evening of January 24 that as of the 700th day of the conflict, 50 military clashes had taken place on the front line, with the Russian army launching two missiles and carrying out 53 airstrikes.

The report said: "During the day, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted airstrikes on six areas where enemy personnel, weapons, and military equipment were concentrated. Missile units attacked one area where Russian troops were concentrated."

The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that it had repelled Russian attacks in Kupyansk, Liman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka, Shakhtarsky and Zaporizhia. At the same time, Moscow did not give up its intention to dislodge Kiev forces from the bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper River with seven unsuccessful raids.

NATO begins biggest military exercise in 40 years

NATO began the Steadfast Defender 24 exercise on January 24, European Pravda reported. This is the North Atlantic Alliance's largest military exercise since 1988.

Steadfast Defender 24 begins with the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship Gunston Hall departing Norfolk, Virginia, and then sailing across the Atlantic. This is the first tactical component of the exercise. The Canadian Navy ship Charlottetown will join the exercise later in January, sailing from Halifax to Europe.

"Steadfast Defender 24 will be a clear demonstration of our unity, strength and determination to defend each other, our values ​​and the rules-based international order," said General Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

The exercise, which has been planned for several years, will demonstrate NATO's ability to rapidly deploy forces from North America and other parts of the Alliance to bolster Europe's defenses.

Steadfast Defender 24 is intended to simulate the Alliance's response to an attack from a country like Russia and will consist of a series of small, separate exercises that will take place in a number of places, from North America to NATO's eastern flank, near the Russian border.

About 90,000 servicemen, 50 naval ships, 80 aircraft and more than 1,100 combat vehicles will participate in the exercise.

Britain "tipped off" Germany to deliver Taurus missiles to Kiev

European Pravda, citing Handelsblatt, reported that Britain offered Germany a choice on how to deal with Berlin's reluctance to supply long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Citing "diplomats and officials," European Pravda said the plan was for Germany to transfer its Taurus missiles to Britain, and in return it would transfer additional Storm Shadow long-range missiles to Ukraine.

London is believed to have forwarded the proposal to Berlin a few weeks ago, but no further decisions in this direction have been announced.

The German Chancellor refused to comment on this information.

German-made Taurus cruise missiles are being considered by Berlin for delivery to Ukraine (Photo: Defense Express).

Ukraine is keen to acquire the Taurus cruise missiles, which have a range of up to 500km, and Kiev has been lobbying Berlin since last summer to approve the delivery. However, Germany has resisted the offer, fearing escalation over missile strikes on Russian territory and the Crimean bridge.

Earlier, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Gavrilyuk said that Ukraine's receipt of Taurus long-range missiles from Germany will not cause a fundamental change in the situation on the battlefield, but will significantly expand the capabilities of the Ukrainian army.

The German government hinted at the beginning of the year that it was not ready to supply Kiev with these weapons.

Ukrainian Prime Minister: Slovakia will not block EU aid to Kiev

Kyiv Independent reported on January 24 that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico met with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal in Uzhhorod, a city in western Ukraine, where they discussed relations between the two countries and signed a joint statement on bilateral relations.

After being elected Slovakian prime minister last September, Mr. Fico halted arms supplies and repeatedly criticized both defense aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

According to Prime Minister Shmyhal, during the latest meeting, Mr. Fico agreed that Slovakia will support the EU's $55 billion support program for Ukraine for the period 2024-2027.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was the only European leader to veto the program at an EU summit in December 2023.

Britain calls on allies to 'step up' military aid to Kiev

The Guardian reported that British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said allies needed to "step up" military aid to Ukraine.

"Ukraine has done an incredible job of pushing back the Russians," Mr Shapps told Politico . "It has retaken 50% of the territory it controlled and opened up a shipping route in the Black Sea.... But Kiev needs more support, not just from the UK. Our allies must step up too."

He went on to point out that members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which includes 54 countries, especially all NATO members, “must act.”

The UK has spent more than £7 billion on military aid to Ukraine. Earlier this month, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a further £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in aid to Ukraine.

“The message couldn’t be clearer: the UK will maintain this pace of aid for the long term,” added Shapps.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (Photo: GETTY IMAGES).

US Defense Secretary affirms Ukraine did not abuse weapons

The Kyiv Post reported that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has finally addressed concerns that weapons supplied to Ukraine may have been mismanaged, following earlier criticism of the Pentagon's application of US controls.

Washington's defense secretary called on the international community to continue supporting Kiev's struggle with Moscow, saying there was no mismanagement of US military aid, weapons and equipment provided to Ukraine.

In his opening remarks at the 18th meeting of the Ramstein Defense Contact Group on January 23, Mr. Austin made it clear that the US Department of Defense had found no signs of misuse of the equipment and weapons provided to Kiev. “The United States continues to closely monitor and provide accountability for Washington’s security assistance to Kiev,” he said.

“We have seen no credible evidence of misuse or illegal diversion of the equipment the United States has provided to Ukraine,” he continued. “What we have seen is that Ukraine is using the capabilities we have provided to defend itself against Russia.”

According to Guardian, Kyiv Post, Kyiv Independent, European Pravda, Ukrainska Pravda, Suriyakmaps, Geroman

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/chien-su-ukraine-251-nga-bat-ngo-tu-long-dat-chui-len-dot-kich-avdiivka-20240125094126421.htm