Russian troops step up offensive to take control of strategic Ukrainian towns News

Russian troops are tightening control of the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdievka after weeks of fighting, trying to advance on the town from all sides.

Vitaly Barabash, head of the Ukrainian military administration in the town of Avdievka, told Espresso TV channel, “For some time, as the intensity of the conflict has increased, the situation in the Avdiivka region has become More difficult. “Two more departments have also been opened and have begun to achieve results in the direction of Donetsk and the so-called regions. industry.

The development comes after reports last week that Ukrainian forces had had some success in stopping a Russian offensive.

Russian forces have been launching ground and air attacks on Avdiivka since mid-October, using it as the focal point of a slow push into the eastern Donbass region. Ukraine.

Ukrainian and Western military analysts said that although the Battle of Avdievka was rarely mentioned in official Russian military correspondence, Russia suffered heavy losses.

Russian military blogs also reported on Ukrainian advances near Avdiivka last week.

Russian reports said Russian troops took control of the industrial zone yesterday, Monday, and attempted to attack the coke plant.

Notably, separatists, funded by Russia, seized large swathes of eastern Ukraine and briefly took control of Avdievka in 2014.

They later built fortifications around the city, which is seen as the gateway to the heart of the Russian-controlled Donetsk region and has been fending off attacks since Moscow began its war against Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, but made only weak progress in the east and south.Presidential recognition Vladimir Zelensky Progress has been slow, but he rejected any suggestion that the war had reached a “stalemate”.