KIEV (dpa-AFX) – According to the Ukrainian military, Russia is keeping the pressure high, especially west and southwest of the industrial city of Donetsk. In the Avdiivka area, 20 attacks were repelled, and in the Novopavlivka area the Russian military tried to break through the defense lines 25 times, the Ukrainian General Staff said in its situation report on Friday evening. Just a few weeks ago, Kiev had to evacuate the fortress area around Avdiivka, which had been fought over for months. Now the next defensive line behind is under pressure.
The General Staff reports attacks on the towns of Berdychi, Orlivka and Tonenke, where the Ukrainian military wanted to dig in after withdrawing from Avdiivka.
Further south, after the Russian conquest of Maryinka, the Ukrainian defenders in the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiyivka and Novomykhailivka found themselves in trouble. Ukraine has been fending off the Russian war of aggression for more than two years now. Recently, the country went on the defensive due to the weakening Western arms support and had to accept further territorial losses./bal/DP/he