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Thanks Don

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In addition, the new interview of the Commander-in-Chief of the AFU Syrskyi was released today. According to his words only 25 Ukrainian soldiers were captured in Avdiivka.

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3845817-oleksandr-syrskyi-commanderinchief-of-the-ukrainian-armed-forces.html

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If they managed to retreat under fire and have so few losses, it was quite a good performance.

Having the artillery and ammunition etc to resist for some more months and bleed Russian attackers would be even nicer, but...

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You can read about the last hours of the battle for Avdiivka in this substack. I can't say how big was the garrison of the defenders of Avdiivka, but this number is more than 1000 soldiers. The end of the battle of Avdiivka was a bloody mess and it's a miracle that only 25 Ukrainian soldiers were captured.

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Well done Don.

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When the Russians withdrew from Kherson, did they not cover it with mobiks? I recall they pulled back the bulk of their forces while simultaneously throwing some untrained units to the front, then telling them to try to blend in with the civilians or do whatever they want.

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Sacrificing the separatists and mobiks were part of the Russian plan, as many of them were the last to leave, but the lack of pursuit meant they managed to withdraw, as well.

Some Russians did change into civilian clothing but I haven't read anything to suggest that it was in support of some military operation.

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Not part of the operation, no. Rumor had it that they were supposed to change into civilian when the operation was complete, to try avoid capture.

But I believe they had managed to pull out, too. Ukraine publicly denied that a withdrawal was taking place, until it was suddenly over. I remember them posing with like twenty captives in a field. Maybe that was all they got.

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Ruzz changed into civilians when they fled in small numbers before the massive unhindered withdrawal from Kherson, which took time of more than a week through only one bridge for 40K troops with military equipment.

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Thanks Tom so I learned something tonight

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Donald: excellent job as always. Your writing style is quite nice as it appears to be formatted for the Layman. Even my wife would be able to understand most of what you have written with just a few queries for complete understanding.

Nice job. :o)

BTW - for those who did not notice....the quotes from my last response were from ODDBALL in KELLY'S HEROES.

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