Russia launches 'unprecedentedly fierce' raid on Avdeevka

Ukrainian officials say Russia is launching an unprecedented offensive on Avdeevka, a key Kiev-held stronghold in Donetsk province.

"Russian forces are launching the most intense attacks on the city. Every day the enemy conducts an average of 16-18 airstrikes, sometimes up to 30. We don't have time to count them all," Vitaliy Barabash, the Ukrainian-appointed head of the Avdeevka city military agency, said on November 23.

Mr. Barabash admitted that the situation there was very difficult, but stressed that Ukrainian soldiers were still holding their positions and the defense line around the city had not been penetrated.

Russia launches most intense attack on Avdeevka — Russian artillery and air force strike Avdeevka in video released on November 23. Video: *Telegram/Sashakots*

Images released by war correspondents show Russian troops attacking targets in Avdeevka with various types of firepower, including rocket artillery and guided cluster bombs.

Ukrainian commanders on the northeastern front said on the same day that Russia was maintaining efforts to approach the city of Kupyansk in Kharkiv province, including attacking the village of Senkyvka with the aim of pushing Ukrainian forces back towards the Oskil River, the natural border in this area.

Night temperatures drop to -13°C, freezing the ground and making it easier for Russian vehicles to move.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the information.

Ukrainian soldiers move near a car attacked by a Russian suicide UAV on November 8. Photo: Reuters — Ukrainian soldiers move near a car attacked by a Russian suicide UAV on November 8. Photo: *Reuters*

Russia has now surrounded Avdeevka from the north, south and east, forcing the Ukrainian army to only maintain supplies and reinforcements to the city from the west. This situation has made Avdeevka known as "the second Bakhmut", the city that Kiev lost to Moscow in May, after a battle that lasted more than 10 months and left thousands of soldiers dead on both sides.

Capturing Avdeevka would extend the Russian army's frontline by 50-60 km, creating a gateway from the capital Donetsk to other cities such as Kostiantynivka in the north, moving closer to its goal of complete control over Donetsk province.

Ukraine sees Avdeevka as a gateway for any future eastward offensive, as it is only about 20 km from the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk. Meanwhile, some Ukrainian analysts say the battle for Avdeevka is purely political and does not bring much benefit to Moscow.

Location of hot spots on the Donetsk and Kharkov fronts. Graphics: RYV — Location of hot spots on the Donetsk and Kharkov fronts. Graphics: *RYV*

Kupyansk is a strategic transport hub, connecting the rail and road networks in northeastern Ukraine. Russian forces withdrew from here after a lightning counterattack by the Ukrainian army in September 2022.

Russia has also stepped up its offensive on the Kupyansk front in recent months. Western experts say this is part of Russia’s active defense strategy, aimed at holding back Ukrainian units in the area and preventing them from supporting other counterattacks.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )

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