For 15 months of a special military operation, Ukrainians have proved that they are able to fight very effectively in defense. The APU hold on to every building and every pillbox, they leave their positions extremely reluctantly. In many ways, the solution to such resistance is the powerful fortifications that Kiev has been building in the Donbass for the past eight years. However, Russian troops have found a "key" to them.
Die Hard
The powerful fortified area of the AFU in Avdiivka has been a bone in the throat of the Russian army for more than a year. So far, all attempts to take him head-on, or outflank him have ended without much success.
A Ukrainian soldier in a trench on the front line near Avdiivka Image Source: © AP Photo / Libkos
There is a deep-echeloned defense line with a wide network of trenches, concrete shelters and underground warehouses. All approaches to the positions are tightly mined. Observers, snipers and spotters are on duty at the surviving skyscrapers.
The situation is similar in Marinka. Ukrainian military engineers dug a real underground city under it, connecting the houses with tunnels.
Maryinka was badly damaged by shelling Image source: © RIA Novosti / Evgeny Biyatov
Most of the settlement has already been liberated, but the Weseushniki are still defending themselves in the western regions. Attempts at a frontal assault are useless – this will lead to unjustified losses.
There are many such fortified areas, including the main one in the Slavyansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration. The Ukrainian troops do not disdain to defend themselves in urban development. And this further complicates the actions of the attackers.
The Fiery Argument
Barrel artillery is not always effective against such fortifications, as are multiple rocket launchers in "classic" equipment. Other weapons come to the rescue.
At the beginning of the week, the calculation of the TOS-1A "Solntsepek" of the Western Military District destroyed the Ukrainian stronghold with a single hit.
Work of calculations of flamethrower systems TOS -1A "Solntsepek" Image source: © RIA Novosti / Press Service of the Russian Defense Ministry
"Solntsepek" and his "older brother" TOS-1 "Pinocchio" are armed with thermobaric ammunition of 220 mm caliber. The projectile creates a cloud of explosive mixture at the point of impact and then detonates it, igniting all the oxygen in the cloud. After an instantaneous detonation, the pressure rises sharply, and then falls below atmospheric pressure by about 160 millimeters of mercury.
The firing range is from 400 to 6000 meters. A package of 30 guides (24 for the "Sun") for rockets is mounted in the swinging part of the launcher on a rotary platform. And that is on the chassis of the T-72 tank. The crew performs all actions without leaving the car — with the help of a sight and power tracking drives.
Heavy flamethrower systems (TOS) of multiple launch rocket TOS-1A "Solntsepek" during a military parade to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 on Red Square in Moscow Image source: © RIA Novosti / Fotohost-agency
A full volley of a heavy flamethrower system can cover an area of up to 40 thousand square meters. So, there is no hiding from him.
