(Dan Tri) – Russia has brought several Ukrainian army reinforcement routes near the eastern city of Avdiivka under fire control.
(Illustration photo: TASS).
`Our units continued to press the enemy in the direction of Avdiivka. Some of their supply lines near Berdychi, Orlovka and Umanskoye were within our fire sights,` said Igor Kimakovsky, adviser to the commander.
He pointed out that Russian attacks will significantly complicate the logistics of the Ukrainian army in that front-line area.
On February 17, Ukrainian forces announced their withdrawal from Avdiivka to establish a new defense line in three villages west of the town.
Avdiivka is considered the gateway to the Donbass region, Eastern Ukraine, and is an important link in Russia’s plan to completely control the Donbass region.
Control of Avdiivka is one of the latest signs that Russia has taken the initiative on the battlefield after Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive failed to meet Ukraine’s expectations.
On March 20, TASS news agency quoted a commander of a Russian drone squadron nicknamed Zanoza as saying that Ukrainian forces had reduced their activities around the Avdiivka area.
`The enemy has significantly reduced their activities since we took control of Avdiivka. They are resisting but not as bold as before. Their morale is falling,` the above commander said.
Zanoza’s `Hawks` unit is training a group to operate UAVs in Donetsk.
`After completing the training course, soldiers operating UAVs will be sent to the front lines,` a commander said.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has entered its third year and shows no signs of cooling down.
Russia is dominating the battlefield in the context that the Ukrainian army is running out of weapons and ammunition due to stagnant aid from the West.
Russian Defense Minister, General Sergei Shoigu announced yesterday that since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has lost more than 71,000 soldiers and more than 11,000 different weapons units.
He added that Ukrainian forces lost 3,501 soldiers in recent attacks on Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk border regions.
Minister Shoigu said that Russia had partially dislodged Ukrainian forces from positions in both the East and the South.
