According to the report of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, published on Sunday, 60 military clashes took place at the front during the day of December 10.
The Ukrainian army says it has successfully repelled these numerous Russian attacks in the directions of Kupyansk, Limansk, Bakhmout and Shakhtarsk.
Kyiv soldiers also ensure to advance south of Bakhmut, maintaining the defense of Avdivka and containing the enemy in the Marinka region, says the head of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky.
But Moscow’s army seems to have regained the initiative in recent days and is intensifying pressure on the entire front line. Even in areas where the Ukrainian army had advanced since the summer and the launch of its counter-offensive.
Difficult operational situation
The operational situation in the east of the country remains difficult for the Ukrainian forces, concedes this Ukrainian official from the entire eastern sector of the front (directions of Kharkiv, Izyum, Liman, Lisichansk, Kupyansk, Bakhmout or Avdviivka).
“Together with the commanders who provide defense in the eastern direction, we analyzed the situation in detail and considered options for further actions,” he explains. “We took together the necessary decisions and measures to ensure the sustainability of our defense, preserve the lives of our soldiers and the rational use of ammunition,” added Alexandre Syrsky on December 10 on his Telegram channel, publishing a photo of a meeting with representatives of the command.
For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry assured on December 10 that it had repelled attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces in the directions of Koupyansk, Krasnolimansk, Donetsk and Zaporozhye.
Avdviivka in the Russian viewfinder
In their attempt to regain the initiative, Russian forces have launched a new major offensive on the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, the Ukrainian army said on Monday.
Avdiivka is a crucial stronghold for Ukraine, located just northwest of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in the eastern Donbass region.
“The enemy yesterday launched massive assault actions with the support of armored vehicles in the Avdiivka and Mariinka directions,” military spokesman Oleksandr Stupun told Ukrainian television.
Some 610 artillery shots were reported near Avdiivka in the past 24 hours.
Russia is trying to surround the small town, which now has only around 1,500 inhabitants out of the 32,000 before the war.
The fighting is reminiscent of the battle for another eastern city, Bakhmout, which fell to Russian forces in May after months of intense urban fighting.
Russia launched a new attempt to take Avdiivka more than two months ago and Moscow’s forces have since advanced on the flanks in an attempt to cut the supply lines. “The fierce fighting continues. Our fighters firmly hold the defenses,” Oleksandr Stupun said.
This article is originally published on lindependant.fr
