According to the ISW, the Russian invaders decided to slow down their advance and prepare reserves to try to attack Toretsk.
What is happening at the front
American analysts point out that on 30 April, the Russian army did not carry out any confirmed offensives in the Avdiivka area for the first time in several days.
However, what is important to understand is that Russian troops carried out more attacks in the Bakhmut-Chasiv Yar area than near Avdiivka.
As the Institute for the Study of War notes, one day is not enough to establish a pattern, but it may indicate that Russian forces are slowing down the pace of attacks around Avdiivka while resuming offensive actions around Chasiv Yar.
Since around 20 April, Russian forces have focused on building tactical gains near Ocheretyne (northwest of Avdiivka) and Novokalynove (north of Avdiivka), but as of 30 April, the pace of confirmed advances appears to have slowed.
Russians want to capture Toretsk
ISW warns that the Russian army may attempt to break through in the direction of Toretsk to complement its offensive operations near Chasiv Yar.
However, such a development may well require Russian forces to pause tactically to concentrate their forces for the offensive.
Chasiv Yar is an operationally important objective, as it would serve as a springboard for Russian forces to launch offensives against Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka, which serve as fortresses for the four major cities of Donetsk. However, Russian forces will likely need a longer pause to reinforce existing units and redeploy additional forces to the Ocheretyne area if they decide to attempt to push north towards Toretsk.
