In Avdiivka, the Donetsk region, many residential buildings have been completely destroyed by shelling and attacks by the Russian occupiers, and there are huge craters in the yards from enemy bombardment. The city is gradually turning into ruins.
What is happening in Avdiivka
The UK Ministry of Defence has published a video from Avdiivka showing the aftermath of Russian shelling.
The 53-second video also shows damaged military equipment of the Russian Federation troops. In particular, the video shows an occupation tank falling from a bridge over a pond and lying on its side in a ravine.
The British Ministry of Defence notes that as a result of the Russian invaders' assault actions in the campaign to capture Avdiivka, the losses of the occupation contingent have almost doubled.
This is Avdiivka. In 2022, Russia planned to capture the city and the entire Donbas in just 10-14 days. On the other hand, the latest attacks have led to a 90% increase in Russian casualties, the footage captions say.
Battles for Avdiivka
In early October, Russian troops significantly intensified hostilities near Avdiivka. This offensive is considered to be the largest since 2014.
As previously stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valeriy Zaluzhny, the occupiers lost at least 10,000 soldiers in the battle for Avdiivka. At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Russian losses in the Avdiivka area were higher than in Bakhmut.
The Ukrainian military explained that Russian troops would not be able to capture Avdiivka unless they occupied the territory of the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant. In late November and early December, Russian propagandists claimed to be advancing in the area of the coke plant. However, on 3 December, soldiers of the 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade denied rumours of an alleged advance by the occupiers into the plant. The defenders stressed that it was under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
We would like to add that fierce fighting is currently taking place along the entire frontline in the Avdiivka area, but the Russian occupiers are paying special attention to Stepove, northwest of the city. They want to capture it to cut off the logistics of the AFU.
