Fighters of the 47th OMBr spoke about the defense of Avdiivka and the exit from Koksokhim: video

Ukrainian witness

Fighters of the 47th OMBr, who together with other units defended Avdiivka, spoke about the difficult defense of the city.

On February 17, after the hellish battles, the command of the Armed Forces announced the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from the city. The 47th OMbr was one of the last to leave the coke plant, which was held by the Ukrainian military.

The commander of the 26th separate rifle battalion with the call sign “Mong” says that they managed to evacuate the wounded from the factory, as well as take away the bodies of the dead.

The defenders of Avdiyivka told about the exit from the coke farm in a new story of the “Ukrainian Witness” project.

According to “Mongol”, the intensity of the attack on the plant increased in January: then the Russians began assaults from different directions.

“He walked around the entire Koksokhim. If compared to Azovstal, Koksokhim is many times smaller. But it can be used as a fortress.” – says the commander of the 26th “Mongol” rifle battalion.

The commander explained that the Russians attacked Koksokhim so actively because the main road that leads supplies to the city passes near it.

Koksokhim was shelled mainly by guided aerial bombs (KAB). Kamikaze drones almost did not work at the factory – there is a lot of metal, which creates radio interference.

“This is the same defense as in the trenches. This is not a building. The guys were setting up around, digging, because they were having nightmares with everything they had. The factory was completely dismantled…

When one CAB arrives, everything falls from the ceiling into a cup of coffee. And now imagine that twenty or even more such KABs arrive”– says Oleksiy “Ali”, company commander of the 47th OMBr.

During the attack on the plant, the Russians used “meat” assaults. At first, the enemy attacked the soldiers with infantry, then aviation and heavy artillery began to work, and then the “elite” troops were already approaching.

“A lot was thrown here. But a lot also fell. Towards the end, both regular military personnel and contract soldiers came. They were also captured.

“Lately, they advance for one day, collect new reserves for 2-3 days, pull them up, approach one by one. Then a certain number of people gathered – another attack, but they always climb.” – says “Mongol”.

The turning point in the defense came when the Russians captured a field next to the plant, the commander adds.

Read also: The last days of Avdiivka. What led to the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the city and how it happened

“Ali” adds that the Russians have an advantage in personnel. But the soldiers of the 47th OMBr have a motivation to protect their country and family.

“The factory was hit, the entire staff is in the basement. They changed in the basement, went upstairs, went to the border and defended it at 360 degrees.” – he recalls.

In the 47th OMBr, they say that many soldiers were sorry to leave Avdiivka.

“The most difficult thing is to leave, to leave one’s land. It is very difficult to leave even a piece of land, even some kind of land”, says “Mongol”. But the decision was made to preserve personnel.

The main thing is the life of military personnel, “Mongol” emphasizes. On their way out, the servicemen took away all the dead and wounded.

“There is an order to enter and there is an order to leave. They kept their defense until the last. But we must preserve what we have. The order was given – we left”– added “Ali”.