“The situation has worsened”: Kiev reports Russian storm attacks near Avdiivka

“The situation has worsened”
Kyiv reports Russian attacks near Avdiivka

September 13, 2023, 10:24 pm

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As Kiev’s units steadily advance in the south of Ukraine, Moscow’s troops are trying to increase pressure in the east. Ukraine reports increased use of airstrikes and artillery by Russia near the occupied city of Donetsk.

Ukrainian military says Russian attacks in Donbass have increased. “If we talk about the east, the situation in Meringa and Avdiyvka has worsened,” Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Ukrainian state television. “The Russians have increased their shelling there. They have also launched a storm attack.” At the same time, Maljar emphasized that the Russian army had been trying in vain to capture both places for about a year.

Avdiivka is located north of the city of Donetsk, which has been occupied by Russian forces since 2014. Over the weekend, Kiev announced the partial liberation of the Obidne settlement on Avdiivka’s southern edge. According to the Ukrainian military administration in the region, the Russian army has concentrated its offensive efforts north of Avdiivka, ignoring the situation south of the city. According to their own reports, the Russians captured Opytne in November last year.

The division of the front around Avdiivka is considered the fiercest contest since the Russian war of aggression began 18 months ago. Avtivka is a heavily developed Ukrainian defensive position that the Russians have been trying to take since the start of the war to relieve pressure on Donetsk. The village of Marzinga, west of Donetsk city, has also been a frequent target of Russian attacks.

Ukraine, which has been defending itself against a Russian war of aggression for more than a year and a half, launched a counteroffensive in June to liberate the occupied territories. Especially in the south of the country, he has already made several small victories and, according to his own information, is currently making an average of 50 to 200 meters of progress every day.