(Reuters) – Russian forces continue their attacks on two key areas in eastern Ukraine as they aim to isolate the city of Avdiivka and advance towards the town of Kupiansk in the north.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces reported that they successfully repelled approximately 10 Russian attacks on Avdiivka. Vitaly Barabash, the head of Avdiivka’s military administration, stated that there have been continuous strikes on the town center and on the only road that supplies can enter through.
“The situation with supplies is very difficult, with the road constantly under fire, day and night,” Barabash revealed in an interview with U.S-funded Radio Liberty. “This complicates evacuation and aid delivery. The enemy is attempting to cut off our supplies, and any movement is met with gunfire.”
Barabash added that the town’s population has decreased to roughly 1,600 residents from the pre-war population of 30,000, and most of those who remain have chosen to stay despite the risks.
Avdiivka has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, having experienced months of attacks. In 2014, Russian-backed separatists briefly took control of the town and other parts of eastern Ukraine. Since then, Ukrainian forces have erected strong fortifications to defend the area.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy commended the defenders of Avdiivka in a nightly video message, highlighting their resilience as a source of strength for all of Ukraine.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukrainian ground forces, described the conditions along the 1,000-km front as “challenging.” He specifically mentioned Bakhmut, which was seized by Russia in May, and Kupiansk, northeast of Avdiivka, as facing the greatest difficulties.
“The enemy is suffering significant losses in personnel but continues to replenish its forces by bringing in reserves, including from Russia,” stated Syrskyi in an interview with UNIAN news agency.
Local officials also reported that Russian forces attacked areas in the southern Kherson region, which is under Kyiv’s control. More than 800 children have been ordered to evacuate as a result.
Russia’s focus has been on gaining control over the eastern Donbas region, including Donetsk and Luhansk cities and their surrounding areas. This objective comes after their failed attempt to capture Kyiv during the initial stages of the invasion in February 2022. Moscow refers to the conflict in Ukraine as a “special military operation.”
Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June of this year in both the east and south, though progress has been slower compared to the rapid advance in the northeast during the previous year.
Official Russian reports on Monday’s fighting made no mention of Avdiivka for the third consecutive day. They stated that Russian forces successfully repelled three attacks near Kupiansk and an additional 10 near Bakhmut.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the battle reports from either side.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Tom Hogue)
