Ukrainian officials say Russian forces have entered the outskirts of the city of Avdeevka and the situation there is very difficult.
"The enemy is trying to isolate the coke plant and increase pressure on the area," Vitaliy Barabash, the head of the Ukrainian-appointed military administration of the city of Avdeevka, said on February 9.
Mr Barabash admitted that Russian forces had penetrated the outskirts of Avdeevka and were present in many areas around the city. He described the situation there as “extremely difficult”, adding that the enemy was trying to encircle Avdeevka from the southern and northern flanks with overwhelming numbers.
However, Ukrainian officials insist that defense forces are still repelling Russian attacks. "Sometimes I read that 'Avdeevka has fallen'. That is not true. The moment when we 'lose everything and have no way back' is still far away," Mr. Barabash said.
Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front line in this photo posted on February 9. Photo: Ukrainian Army
Satellite imagery released by the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shows Russian forces have made progress south of Avdeevka. A Russian military blogger said the army had advanced 300 meters on a 500-meter-wide front line spanning the three neighborhoods of Chernyshevskogo, Sportiva and Soborna.
Avdeevka is a key town near the capital of Donetsk Oblast. The city is currently controlled by Ukraine and has been one of the targets of Russian attacks in the region.
Capturing Avdeevka would allow the Russian army to extend another 50-60 km on the frontline, creating a gateway from the capital Donetsk to other cities such as Konstantinovka in the north, moving closer to its goal of complete control over Donetsk province.
Ukrainian officials said in January that Russia had massed about 40,000 troops near Avdeevka in an attempt to break through the city’s defenses. ISW said Russian forces appear to have recently changed tactics, prioritizing building-by-building attacks rather than trying to encircle the entire city.
Location of Avdeevka and neighboring towns. Graphics: RYV
Pham Giang (According to Kyiv Post, Avia Pro )
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