KYIV: The military of Ukraine has dispatched troops to the beleaguered eastern town of Avdiivka, which is besieged by Russian forces on three sides. The military has declared the situation there to be “extremely critical.”
The Russian border city of Belgorod was hit by a Ukrainian rocket strike that killed at least six people, according to local officials, at the same time as the reinforcements were announced. As the battle approaches the end of its second year, both sides are increasing their aerial strikes. In the eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine’s posture near Avdiivka has become more vulnerable.
In a Telegram post, the Third Separate Assault Brigade stated, “It was urgently redeployed to strengthen Ukrainian troops in the Avdiivka area.”
Russia was “throwing fresh troops and resources into the town,” it said, adding that the situation was “extremely critical,” “threatening,” and “unstable.” In recent days, Russian troops have advanced, having nearly surrounded the town after a series of brutal attacks last year. A Ukrainian army official described the process of relocating the few hundred civilians who were left as “complicated” on Thursday.
Late in January, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russian forces had arrived at the city’s periphery. Additionally, a vital access road has been severed, as reported by military bloggers from both Russia and Ukraine.
During the two-year conflict, one of the fiercest battles has been fought over the industrial hub, which is located less than ten kilometers north of the city of Donetsk. It has been compared to the bloody battle for Bakhmut that took place the previous year, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of men.
In the event that Russian soldiers breach Ukraine’s strained defenses, it would be Moscow’s largest territorial gain since taking Bakhmut in May. A Ukrainian serviceman in the eastern city of Kramatorsk repeated widespread worries about forces fighting to stall Russian advances being too tired and lacking ammunition.
“We are currently losing battles. The soldier, who had just returned from hospital treatment to fight on the eastern front, stated, “There have been additional attacks, but everybody is hanging in there.” Withholding his identity to discuss critical military matters in public, he continued, “Those who have been battling for two years have become mentally exhausted.” From the frontlines farther east in the Ukrainian bastion in the Donetsk region—which the Kremlin believes is part of Russia—journalists in the city regularly heard artillery fire.
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
