Ukrainian officials have reported intense combat in the eastern city of Avdiivka, which has been under siege by Russian forces for five consecutive days. City Head Vitalii Barabash stated that the Russian enemy has not ceased its relentless assaults and shelling of positions around the city. According to Barabash, the situation is precarious, with constant shelling and assaults battering its streets. Moscow is deploying additional forces to encircle Avdiivka, a strategically important city in the Donetsk region.
Russian UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia claimed that the intensified attacks mark a new stage in Moscow’s campaign in Ukraine, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed these claims, stating that Ukrainian forces are keeping Russian troops at bay and holding their ground against the intense attacks. The situation along Ukraine’s eastern front has worsened significantly, with Russian forces regrouping following losses and launching attacks around the village of Makiivka and pushing towards the city of Kupiansk.
The goal of these attacks is reportedly to encircle Kupiansk and reach the Oskil River. Meanwhile, a 60-year-old woman was killed in Russian shelling of the city of Beryslav in Ukraine’s partly occupied Kherson region. Ukrainian government officials have not acknowledged responsibility for attacks on Russian territory. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains a pressing concern, with the city of Avdiivka under relentless siege and the eastern front showing no signs of letting up.
Vassily Nebenzia (Via Vassily Nebenzia/Twitter)
Ukrainian forces are struggling to maintain control of the city, with only around 1,600 civilians still present, down from a pre-war population of approximately 31,000. The city’s infrastructure has been heavily damaged, with constant shelling and assaults battering the streets. Despite the challenges, Ukrainian forces are determined to hold their ground against the Russian onslaught. The intense combat in Avdiivka has also led to a high number of casualties, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces reporting losses. The Ukrainian Defence Ministry confirmed that Russian air defence systems shot down two Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea near the southern resort city Sochi on Saturday morning.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is having a devastating impact on civilians and military personnel alike, with the city of Avdiivka at the centre of the conflict. Ukrainian forces are fighting to hold their ground against the Russian army, while the international community continues to scrutinize the situation, searching for a peaceful resolution.
