Russians intensify attack on Avdiivka
Russian troops have intensified their offensive on Avdiivka in the Donetsk region.
This was stated by the head of the RMA, Vitalii Barabash, and is evidenced by a report by the Institute for the Study of War.
Barabash says that on October 10, the Russians deployed almost two thousand soldiers and up to a hundred pieces of equipment.
On October 11, Russian troops used infantry and landed in groups of 20-30 people. The Russians were coming from 10-12 directions.
The situation is difficult but under control, added the head of the MBA.
In addition, Russians are striking at the Avdiivka community. It is known that there are dead and wounded. People are also trapped under the rubble.
The Institute for the Study of War writes that such Russian actions and even successes at the tactical level are unlikely to lead to wider operational and strategic advantages for the Russian army.
"Geolocated footage shows that Russian gains around Avdiivka are concentrated to the southwest of Avdiivka, and Russian forces have not completed an operational encirclement of the settlement and will likely struggle to do so if that is their intent," the report reads.
Avdiivka is also well fortified and defended, which is likely to make it difficult for Russian forces to approach or completely capture the town.
"In addition, Russian troops already control segments of the N20 Donetsk - Kostiantynivka - Kramatorsk - Sloviansk road and other routes that run near Avdiivka, so a hypothetical capture of Avdiivka would not open up new routes of advance," the Institute for War Studies added.
General Staff spokesman Andrii Kovalov said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were prepared for a Russian offensive in the Avdiivka area.
In his words, the Russian army is trying to carry out similar attacks on different parts of the frontline. For example, in addition to Avdiivka, the Russian army is trying to storm the Kupiansk direction.
"Russian occupants are looking for weaknesses in our defence. A few months ago, the Russian occupiers tried to concentrate their efforts and actively attack our units, for example, in the Kupyansk sector," Kovalov added.
The purpose of such attacks by the Russian army, he says, is to distract the Ukrainian Armed Forces from those parts of the frontline where the Ukrainian army is making progress.
Photo: RFE|RL
