Ukrainian armed forces withdrew from the villages of Stepove and Sieverne near Avdiivka.
Russian forces are attempting to exploit the tactical opportunities presented by the capture of Avdiivka and appear to be maintaining a relatively high tempo of offensive operations aimed at pushing as far as possible into the Avdiivka area before Ukrainian forces establish defensive lines more cohesive and more difficult to penetrate in the region.
Ukrainian armed forces withdrew from the villages of Stepove and Sieverne near Avdiivka, according to the group’s spokesperson Tavria.
Before the start of the large-scale invasion, about a hundred people lived in Stepove and Sieverne.
Russian forces are currently concentrating their assaults west of Avdiivka towards Berdychi, Orlivka and Tonenke, where Ukrainian forces have established immediate defensive positions to cover their withdrawal from Avdiivka and accommodate upcoming Russian offensive operations.
Ukrainian military observers, however, described the Ukrainian fortifications west of Avdiivka as “disappointing” and of “problematic”.
It is likely that Russian forces will continue their attempts to advance in order to deprive Ukrainian forces of the breathing space that would allow them to establish a more coherent and more difficult to penetrate defensive line in the immediate vicinity of Avdiivka.
