In southern Ukraine, the battle for Avdiivka is intensifying. The Ukrainian army sent reinforcements there. Sasha Vakulina takes stock of the situation on the ground.
The Ukrainian army has sent reinforcements to Avdiivka, a small township north of the city of Donetsk, as Russian forces continue to focus on cutting off Ukraine’s main supply lines.
The head of the communications service of the 110th mechanized brigade indicated Tuesday that reinforcements had arrived in Avdiivka, which the Russians have been trying to occupy since early October.
Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the Tavriia military group, confirmed that there were “fresh forces” in Avdiivka, adding that Russian forces were trying to capture the town “at all costs and as soon as possible.”
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), based in the United States, claims for its part that Russian forces have advanced to Avdiivka. Some Russian bloggers have also claimed that the Russians crossed the railway line and took refuge in a dacha area, west of the railway line, but the ISW has yet to observe visual evidence of Russian forces acting in this area.
On the other hand, it would advance along Chystyakova Street and Zaliznychnyi Alley, to the north of the city.
According to the latest estimates, Russian forces are now approximately 500 meters from Ukraine’s presumed main land communications line at Avdiivka along Hrushevskoho Street.
General Tarnavskyi’s remarks about strengthening Kyiv’s defenses could suggest that the 3rd Brigade, one of Ukraine’s best units, which has remained in reserve and trained in Western weapons, would be brought in to fight for Avdiivka.