A city threatened with falling after months of Russian assaults. Ukrainian and Russian troops are engaged in “fierce fighting” in Avdiïvka, located in eastern Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian military commander said on Friday February 16.

This announcement comes the day after statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who assured that Kiev was doing "everything possible" to save its struggling troops on the eastern front, particularly in the town of Avdiïvka, where the situation is described as "critical".

“Heavy fighting is taking place in the city,” Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, a senior Ukrainian commander responsible for forces in the country’s east, said on social media. “Our troops are using all available forces and means to contain the enemy,” he added.

Also read Counter-attacks from Russia: nothing is going well for the Ukrainian army?

Ukrainian forces are establishing new defensive positions around Avdiivka, with the army also signaling a possible withdrawal in the face of waves of Russian attacks. 

“New positions have been established and powerful fortifications continue to be installed, taking into account all possible scenarios,” added Commander Tarnavskiy.

He stressed that kyiv's priority is to protect its troops: "We value every piece of Ukrainian territory, but the greatest value and priority for us is to preserve the life of every Ukrainian soldier."

See also Avdiïvka, the Ukrainian fortress which has resisted the Russian army for almost a year

Describing the situation in Avdiivka as "difficult but under control", he added that his commanders had been tasked with "stabilizing the situation".

In this Donbass city ravaged by fighting, the position of the Ukrainian defenders is increasingly precarious in the face of Russian forces who have been on the offensive since October. 

The fall of Avdiivka would be an important symbolic victory for Russia.

With AFP

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