A large number of Russian troops are attacking Avdiyivka from all sides, and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult for Ukrainian forces defending the city, its mayor said on Thursday, as quoted by Reuters.
The Russian military seized the initiative on the front in eastern Ukraine after the failure of Kyiv’s offensive last year and, since last October, has been trying to block supply lines and encircle Ukrainian forces in Avdiyivka, a key city in Donetsk region.
“The enemy is pressuring us from all sides. They are starting to storm with very large forces,” said city mayor Vitaly Barabas in a comment to Ukrainian television. He called the situation on this part of the front in the east of Ukraine “very difficult and hot”.
The town of Avdiyivka was almost completely destroyed after the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, in conditions where fighting also took place during the Donbas war, started by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine shortly after the illegal annexation of Crimea 9 years ago. .
Barabas also said Thursday that there are now only 941 residents left in a city that was once home to 32,000 people.
The situation is “critical in places” in Avdiivka
A Ukrainian official said on Wednesday that the situation was “critical in some places” and “very difficult”, adding that groups of Russian saboteurs and scouts were infiltrating the city, causing isolated clashes in the streets with the Ukrainian army.
“It doesn’t mean all is lost,” Barabash encouraged the day before.
In its daily report on the situation at the front, the General Staff in Kyiv said on Thursday that troops in Avdiivka were fighting to push back Russian forces.
“Our soldiers are firmly holding the defense, inflicting significant losses on the occupiers,” the Ukrainian military said, adding that the situation is also tense in other parts of the front in the east of the country.
“The adversary is trying to break through our defenses in the area of Chasovoy Yar (and not another city in the Donetsk region) and is resorting to local actions of small assault groups. [care atacă] under the cover of drones and artillery,” the General Staff of Ukraine reported on the Telegram channel.
On January 24, Russian troops managed to enter Avdiivka, but were later repulsed by counterattacks of Ukrainian troops.
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Source: Hot News
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