The city of Avdiyivka in eastern Ukraine, attacked by the Russian army, is in danger of falling, the spokesman for the National Security Council of the White House, John Kirby, warned on Thursday, as quoted by AFP.

“Unfortunately, according to the information received from the Ukrainians, the situation is critical, Russia’s pressure on Ukrainian positions continues day by day. Avdiyivka risks falling under the control of Russia,” he said.

Ukraine is conducting maneuvers in some areas of the city of Avdiyivka in order to move troops to “more advantageous positions”, while in other places it is trying to push back Russian troops, military spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy said on Thursday, according to Reuters.

The Russian army has drawn about 50,000 soldiers to the Avdiivka front, Ukrainians claim.

On television, he said that Ukraine had activated a backup logistics route to the city, but supplying Avdiivka and evacuating the city were “difficult.”

Russia has been trying to capture this city in the east of the country for several months, fierce battles are taking place there.

“Maneuvers are taking place in Avdiivka in places to move our units to more advantageous positions, and in other places to force them (Russians) to withdraw from their positions,” Lykhovy said.

“So the key announcement in all this is that securing Avdiivka and evacuation from there is complicated,” he said, adding that a “reserve logistical artery” was involved, which had been prepared in advance.