Avdiivka
A front-line town that held for ten years — from 2014 to 2024.
Avdiivka grew beside the railway of 1884 and around a coking plant — the largest in Europe. From July 2014 the town stood on the front line and held for ten years running, becoming a symbol of endurance; its industrial zone and slag heaps entered the history of the defence. The final assault lasted four months. Among the volunteers who defended Avdiivka was Yevhen Karas, now commander of the Raid unmanned systems regiment. On 15 February 2024 the Third Assault Brigade was sent to reinforce the city's defenders, and on 19 February the 25th Separate Assault Battalion of the 47th Magura Brigade was the last to leave the coke plant — after four months of defence.
Temporarily occupied since 2024.
Chronicle
- April 2014 — The town passed under the control of armed groups.
- 28 July 2014 — Avdiivka was liberated; for ten years it lived as a front-line town.
- January–February 2017 — The battle for the industrial zone: the town lost power and heating in hard frost, and civilians began to evacuate.
- 10 October 2023 — The final assault opened — the most powerful in nine years of war.
- February 2024 — A breakthrough through the "Tsarska Okhota" district in the south and pressure on the coke plant from the north.
- 16 February 2024 — Withdrawal from the "Zenit" position.
- 17 February 2024 — The withdrawal of Ukrainian forces was announced; the 25th assault battalion of the 47th brigade was the last to leave the coke plant.