In a recent statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of defending the war-torn city of Avdiivka, stating that heavy Russian losses there would undermine Moscow’s conduct of the broader conflict. Additionally, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff confirmed that Ukrainian forces in the southern Kherson region had established a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, potentially opening up a new line of attack towards Crimea.
Since abandoning the western bank of the river a year ago, Russian troops have been shelling towns and villages from their positions on the eastern side. Avdiivka has been a primary target for Moscow’s forces since mid-October, resulting in significant destruction, with officials reporting that not a single building remains intact.
Zelenskiy addressed the intensity of the Russian assaults in the eastern Donetsk region, particularly in Avdiivka, in his nightly video address. He noted that Russian forces were experiencing greater losses near Avdiivka compared to other areas, stating that withstanding their pressure was extremely challenging. Zelenskiy emphasized that the more Russian forces were destroyed near Avdiivka, the worse the overall situation would be for the enemy and the course of the war.
Official Russian accounts of the fighting in the east did not mention Avdiivka, although Russian war blogger Rybar acknowledged some progress in positions around the town. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Moscow’s forces had repelled five attacks near the villages recaptured by Ukraine since May, resulting in 300 Ukrainian casualties. However, Reuters could not independently verify accounts from either side.
Bakhmut, located about 50 km north of Avdiivka, is only 20 km west of the Russian-held regional capital of Donetsk. Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun stated that the fighting was most intense south of Avdiivka, with Ukrainian forces successfully repelling 18 Russian attacks in the past 24 hours. He also mentioned that the occupiers had actively used guided aviation bombs in the Donetsk region, particularly around Avdiivka.
In a significant development, Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak confirmed that Kyiv’s forces had established a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, following contradicting reports over the past few weeks. Yermak shared this information during an address to the Hudson Institute think-tank in the United States, stating that Ukraine’s Defense Forces were demilitarizing Crimea step by step, covering 70% of the distance, and that their counteroffensive was developing.
As Ukraine’s counteroffensive has made incremental gains over the past four months, Ukrainian officials have been cautious in describing their forces’ activities on the east bank. Last week, Russia’s military claimed to have thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to establish a bridgehead on the eastern bank and nearby islands, resulting in the deaths of approximately 500 Ukrainian soldiers.
In a peculiar incident on Monday, two Russian state news agencies briefly announced that Moscow was moving troops to more favorable positions east of the Dnipro River in Ukraine, only to retract the information minutes later. Russia has previously used similar language to describe retreats.
The situation in Avdiivka and the broader conflict between Ukraine and Russia remains tense and uncertain.
