Ukrainian soldiers recorded on video impressions from the town of Avdiivka in June of 2023, driving around the town and speaking to some of civilians who still remain in the city.
Kyiv Independent reports: In Avdiivka, Ukrainians hold Russians off for nearly 10 years
The fate of towns in the vicinity of the front line is similar. The Russian army does not like to fight in a fair way, they prefer to reduce villages and cities to rubble. Scorched earth. More famous examples include Grozny (Chechnya), Allepo (Syria) and Ukrainian cities of Mariupol, Bakhmut, Soledar and Marinka.
Total Russian Losses for Taking Adiivka
So – do they even care to think what to do with such places in the future? Sober realism? Some of these places are so utterly destroyed, who would even want to rebuild them? Very painful. Very meaningless.
Comparing Donezk with Mariupol
According to Russian relentless propaganda, Ukraine bombarded Donezk for 8 years. Now, in autumn 2023 the city of Donezk is 30 miles behind the front lines, well in reach of Himars rocket systems (reach of 80km). And yet …
Ukraine hits ammonition depots or places with military vehicles, airports or troup gathering places. This is an understandable military goal. To destroy a city – not only the buildings, but also all the valuable things inside buildings, even the spiritual meanings attached to them – is a crime that is hard to comprehend or even to put words to. But we are there and we see it happening.