Russian troops appear to be on an unstoppable advance in the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, in the southeast of the country. Day by day, it looks more and more like Avdiivka will become the first Ukrainian city to fall since Bachmut in May last year. “The situation is critical,” reporters testify at the completely destroyed site.
The Russian army managed to gain a foothold in the southern outskirts of Avdiivka two weeks ago and in recent days the same thing happened in the north of the city.
According to Yuri Butusov of the Ukrainian news site ‘Tsenzor.Net’, street fighting is taking place everywhere. “It just started snowing here,” he posted on the Telegram messaging service this morning. “The enemy is only 1,200 meters from the entrance to the city and continues to attack. More than six hundred aerial bombs have been dropped on the city in the past four weeks. The devastation is enormous.”
Enemy
Yesterday he said that the situation is “critical”. “The 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army and some units affiliated with it are engaged in battles with an enemy several times stronger,” he testified on Sunday.
According to Butusov, new troops are urgently needed, not only to replace wounded and killed soldiers, but also to relieve the exhausted soldiers of the 110th Mechanized Brigade. They have been continuously defending the city for two years. “Ammunition is also needed. Supplies are extremely small. The enemy also has a great advantage in that area,” he says.
Manhunt
The Russians are said to have immediately started a manhunt for Ukrainian drone operators upon arrival in the city. Buildings and places where antennas are set up are shot at and bombed. Certainly the aerial bombardments can take place virtually undisturbed.
Butusov emphasizes that the Russians are also suffering “significant losses” in their advance. But they are more successful in building up reserves near Avdiivka.
LOOK. Russians send soldiers to Avdiivka as cannon fodder
Ukrainian journalist Andri Tsapljenko confirms based on his sources that the situation in Avdiivka has been critical since yesterday. According to him, the Russian troops managed to bypass the Ukrainian combat formations and are entrenched in buildings. “They are only a few hundred meters away from the main logistical artery of the Ukrainian defenders,” he warns.
However, all is not yet lost, Ukrainian soldiers tell Tsaplyenko. But then reserves are urgently needed, preferably with experience in fighting in urban areas.
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