Under the Artyomovsk metalworking plant, the communications go 300 meters deep
The Wagner PMC began an assault on the underground part of the Bakhmut Azovstal — the communications of the Artemovsk Metalworking Plant (AZOM). According to military expert, former US Army officer Stanislav Krapivnik, «Wagnerites» will have to perform one of the most difficult military tasks — to storm the enemy in underground communications, which go to a depth of more than 300 meters. The military expert spoke about the prospects for this operation.
Stormtroopers of PMC «Wagner» strengthened their positions in the industrial zone and began to storm the underground utilities of the AZOM plant. We are talking about the former non-ferrous metallurgy plant named after E.I. Quiringa, built in 1954. Like all similar Soviet construction projects, the facility was built with a possible nuclear war in mind. That is, it has an extensive network of underground utilities.
It is still difficult to say how many fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have fortified themselves in the catacombs — there is a network of underground communications on the territory of the plant, which goes underground for dozens of floors. In various basements and basements, the enemy can store ammunition, shelter personnel and even equipment, as was the case in Mariupol at Azovstal.
According to a military expert, a former US Army officer Stanislav Krapivnik, to predict the course and the completion of operations related to the assault on such powerful fortified areas as AZOM is very difficult.
“It all depends on what the enemy has underground,” he says. — If, say, there are supplies of fresh water and food, then he can hold out there for a very long time. In a good way, they can sit there for years. When there was a defense of the Adzhimushkaysky quarries in Kerch, ours withstood a German ambush for a year and a half.
The difficulties of storming underground utilities, according to a military expert, are associated with a network of labyrinths. In addition, the closed space of vast territories will dictate its own conditions for conducting a battle.
— Our fighters simply may not know the exact number and location of rooms in the dungeons, where there are entrances and exits. Still, this is the territory of the enemy, and he is better oriented in it.
In addition, the enemy can leave various traps there. It can be anything from chemicals to installing simple stretch marks, min. All this is designed to slow down the advance of our troops. Activation of explosives, for example, can provoke a collapse of the ceiling, walls.
According to Stanislav Krapivnik, the most effective way to storm an underground fortress is to force the enemy to leave their positions:
— The most effective way, in my opinion, is to surround such a fortified area, find entrances and exits, flood the enemy or use an annoying gas, which is used by the same policemen in Europe. Without any humanitarian corridors. And then just keep the exits under control and wait. As a soldier, I would do this instead of sending my soldiers to clean up such places. It is dangerous and bloody.
Such fights are one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult, — said the expert. — 320 meters is a lot, but it can be deeper. I have been in mines 1600 meters deep. There are completely different conditions — the heat is up to 35 degrees, there is little air. People just undressed and worked in T-shirts. I’m not saying that it’s easy for our fighters now, but there are no such conditions at such a depth yet.
As for technology, it all depends on the tunnels. The tunnel can be four meters wide and three meters high, or it can be so wide that two people can hardly disperse. In such a tunnel, the use of technology is impossible. If there is not enough space, then you can take only light weapons with you.
According to Stanislav Krapivnik, the assault on the plant's dungeons will most likely have to be combined with repelling the announced offensive APU.
“As far as I understand, if the enemy still starts an offensive from Chasov Yar, he will hit the flanks of the Wagner PMC,” said Krapivnik. — If he now makes such an attempt, it is very good. And that's why. If the Armed Forces of Ukraine go on the offensive, they will go less prepared. The more time they have to prepare, the worse it will be for us, because the enemy will be stronger. For a successful counterattack, the enemy needs to form at least 5 shock divisions. But, fortunately, he does not have such opportunities today.
According to him, the enemy will use new Western equipment.
— Despite Western supplies of equipment, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have limited forces, — said the expert. — They will not be able to carry out their plan, because this requires more than a thousand tanks. And now they have been given one and a half tank divisions.
Besides, there is a thaw in the Donbas now. My comrades have recently returned from near Svatovo, they say that at the front the mud is knee-deep and deeper. Jeeps do not pass, especially vehicles will not pass. Wheeled vehicles will also sit down, no one will move much. And the slower the enemy moves, the more he will lose, because our artillery and aircraft will strike as soon as the advance from the other side begins.