According to the ISW team, the new tactic of the Russian invaders in the Donetsk region consists of continuous hostilities to exhaust the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russians continue their offensive near Avdiivka.
The American Institute for the Study of War concluded that Russian soldiers were trying to use the tactical opportunities that appeared after the capture of Avdiyivka.
That is why the Russian invaders maintain a relatively high pace of offensive operations and intend to advance as far as possible in the Avdiivka area and prevent the soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from establishing more reliable and impenetrable defensive lines on this part of the front.
According to the OSTG "Tavria" spokesman, Capt. Dmytro Lykhovii, the Russian army has significantly increased the number of assault groups in Tavria's direction from small groups as part of divisions to platoons and even companies.
Currently, Russian forces are concentrating their attacks west of Avdiivka in the direction of Berdychi, Orlivka and Tonenke, where Ukrainian troops have created defensive positions to cover their withdrawal from Avdiivka and repulse the next Russian offensive operations.
How events around Avdiivka may develop further
According to the forecasts of American analysts, the Russian army can capture the settlements to the west and northwest of Avdiivka in the coming weeks.
Despite this, the relief of the area and water bodies to the west of the city, especially the reservoir that runs between Berdychi and Semenivka-Orlivka, quite possibly will slow down the already relatively slow pace of the advance of the Russian soldiers.
The Institute for the Study of War suggests that this problematic area can significantly reduce the further tactical advantages of the Russians.
In addition, it allows AFU fighters to take up prepared defensive positions that will likely contribute to the eventual culmination of current Russian offensive efforts in the area, at least until the Russians reinforce their offensive elements.
