A Ukrainian soldier on the front in Avdiivka: moved back to “more advantageous positions.”
Photo:
Serhii Nuzhnenko / Radio Free Europe / Radio Libert
The situation in the heavily contested small town of Avdiivka is becoming increasingly difficult for the Ukrainian defenders. »Heavy fighting is taking place in the city. Our troops are using all available forces and means to hold back the enemy," said the commanding general for this sector of the front, Olexander Tarnawskyj, at dawn on Friday. He called the situation “difficult, but under control.”
The Ukrainian defenders fought back under “inhumane conditions,” wrote the press service of the 110th Brigade of the Ukrainian Army deployed in Avdiivka on Facebook. "Today the enemy is throwing enormous forces in the form of personnel, armored vehicles and aircraft towards Avdiivka."
Russian troops have advanced from several sides, the US Institute for War Studies (ISW) analyzed in its daily report for Thursday. Photos have shown that Russian troops are advancing from the north to the large Avdiivka coking plant. In the south of the city, an important Ukrainian fortified defense structure was captured. "Russian troops may complete the encirclement of some Ukrainian forces if Ukrainian troops do not withdraw or make successful counterattacks," the observers concluded.
Troops moved back to “more advantageous positions.”
On Thursday, the Ukrainian military announced its partial withdrawal from the small town, which has been heavily fought over for months. In some areas, troops are being moved back to "more advantageous positions," a military spokesman said on television. The army has activated a replacement logistics route. Nevertheless, supply trips to the city and evacuations from there are “difficult”.
Russia has been trying to take the city for months in order to gain full control of the Donbass industrial region. Avdiivka is located in the immediate vicinity of the large city of Donetsk, which has been controlled by pro-Russian forces since 2014, and only has symbolic value.
According to the information, around 1,600 residents recently lived in the town; before the start of the Russian war of aggression there were 30,000. Avdiivka has now been converted into a fortress and has been fought over for months. In the fall, Russia unsuccessfully tried to conquer the city with an offensive lasting several days and massive bombardment.
The front line in eastern Ukraine has been almost unchanged for months, but fierce fighting continues. Attacks on both sides have increased this winter.
Massive Russian missile attacks against targets in almost all parts of the country
Only on Thursday night and in the early hours of the morning did Russia carry out massive missile attacks against targets in almost all parts of Ukraine. There were impacts in several regions, as the local authorities announced. An infrastructure object was hit in Lviv, western Ukraine. A total of around ten rockets were fired at the region alone, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadowyj wrote on Telegram. Two people were injured and the windows in several residential buildings were broken due to the pressure wave. A school was also damaged.
mrc/eru/dpa