Soldiers of Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade join the fight in Avdiivka. The contest is no longer a battle for a city, for Avdiivka was reduced to rubble months ago, and the two belligerents now grapple over the city’s shattered carcass in a struggle for position. The Institute for the Study of War assesses that the Russian Army is executing a tactical turning movement in Avdiivka, unhinging Ukrainian defenses and forcing them to withdraw to defensible terrain. Units such as the 3rd Assault Brigade are committed to cover the withdrawal of Avdiivka’ s defenders, in this case the 110th Brigade. The 3rd Assault Brigade is one of Ukraine’s more prestigious units and featured prominently in last year’s struggle for Bakhmut. I would describe the imminent capture of Avdiivka as a Pyrrhic victory for Russia as the price paid in blood and steel has been catastrophic. That assessment presupposes that Russia can non sustain huge losses in men and material, and thus far they appear willing to bear the cost. I have long held that the Ukrainian strategy of pursuing an asymmetrical attrition gradient would place sufficient pressure on the Russian military and society that their system would eventually fracture, but Russian appears willing to accept the punishment. As long as the Russian people remain supine and complacent, their young men will continue to die for this regime as their ancestors did for Stalin and the Romanovs.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing is preparing for the 2024 season of sailing on Galveston Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.