Ukrainian troops withdrew from the villages of Stepove and Severne near Avdiivka, said the OSTG "Tavria" spokesman, Capt. Dmytro Lykhovii, in the afternoon of Feb. 27.
What is known about the situation near Avdiivka?
Dmytro Lykhovii confirmed that the line of defence in Tonenke, Orlivka and Berdychi was stabilised in the Avdiyiv direction.
"In the Avdiiv region, our units retreated from the small villages of Severna and Stepove. Before the war, the two of them together had up to 100 inhabitants," Lykhoviy said.
He also noted that fierce fighting for the Sieverne had continued since last night and into the night.
The enemy suffered heavy losses here, he said.
Dmytro Lykhova
OSTG "Tavria" spokesperson
Analysts analysed the situation in Avdiivka after the city's occupation by Russians
The agency refers to the statement of OSTG "Tavria", Dmytro Lykhovii, who noted that the number of Russian shellings in the Avdiivka direction has significantly decreased over the past day.
Russian shelling and aircraft activity in the area have also significantly decreased. Currently, Russian troops are regrouping and clearing the city.
Ukrainian forces withdrew to a new line of defense, which Ukrainian Armed Forces prepared in advance and strengthened on "several levels".
The report notes that Russian forces will likely have to hold an operational pause before resuming significant offensive operations in the Avdiivka direction or transfer additional reinforcements from other front areas to the area to prevent a culmination of actions near the city.
Russian forces have reserves for such reinforcements in other sectors, but the ISW saw no indication that the Russian command is currently shifting these reserves to the Avdiivka side, the report noted.
Lykhovii and the AFU Ground Forces speaker Ilya Yevlash said that the Russian command would probably soon transfer the forces concentrated around Avdiivka to other, unspecified areas of the front line.
Yevlash said it would likely take at least a week for Russian troops to move units from Avdiivka into combat in unspecified areas of the front.
ISW has yet to observe any indication of how Russian forces will decide to distribute their manpower currently deployed near Avdiivka, the report said.
