UK intelligence: Russia continues battle for Ukraine’s Avdiivka

The Russian army approached the Avdiivka coke plant during the offensive. Its capture will make it very difficult to supply the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the city.

“Over the last week, Russian forces have continued attacks towards outlying villages of the contested town of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast. Russia is almost certainly attempting a pincer movement to encircle the town,” Caliber.Az reports, citing the UK Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine.

According to the report, Avdiivka has been fought over for nearly a decade and holds political importance to Russia given its proximity to Donetsk city.

“Recent advances have likely brought Russian forces close to the Ukrainian-held Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, a sprawling industrial complex which produces coke and a variety of chemicals, occupies a key tactical position to the north of the town. The plant dominates the main road into Avdiivka and, if Russian forces were to secure it, resupplying the town would become increasingly difficult for Ukraine.

However, the industrial facility provides Ukraine with a localised defensive advantage and Russian forces will probably suffer significant personnel losses if they attempt to assault the facility,” the statement added.