Maps Show Russian Advances in Avdiivka After Suffering Major Losses

The Russian military made additional confirmed gains near the town of Avdiivka on Tuesday after several weeks of brutal fighting in the area, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Moscow launched a renewed offensive front toward Avdiivka—an industrial town located in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine—in early October. The village is considered to be a gateway between Kyiv’s military and the Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine, and Russia has paid a heavy price in an attempt to capture the town.

According to the think tank’s recent assessments of the war in Ukraine, Russia is finally beginning to make incremental advances toward Avdivvka, including making marginal advances in the zone southeast of the village on Tuesday, per geolocated footage. Russian milbloggers credited the advances to the Kremlin deploying armored vehicles to the frontlines—Moscow has lost several tanks and other military equipment since beginning its latest charge on October 10.

A map compiled by the ISW displayed where Russia has made its most notable advances near Avdiivka over the last several days, which shows Moscow’s troops slowly making their way to encircling the city. The Washington-based think tank previously reported that Moscow made marginal advances northwest and southeast of Avdiivka over the weekend.

Newsweek reached out to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry via email for more information.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) map from November 28, 2023, shows the state of fighting near Donetsk City, with an emphasis on the state of the city of Avdiivka. Institute for the Study of War

The Ukrainian General Staff said that Ukraine’s forces repelled Russian attacks that came in from the north, northwest and south of Avdiivka in an update to Facebook on Tuesday. Kostyantyn Mashovets, a Ukrainian military observer who was quoted by the ISW, reported instances of unsuccessful Russian attacks southwest of Avdiivka.

Oleksandr Tarnavsky, the Ukrainian commander responsible for the area near Avdiivka, said Wednesday that Russia had “significantly increased its activity” over the past 24 hours and confirmed that Moscow was using armored vehicles in the area, according to a report by Agence France-Presse. Russia’s forces reportedly carried out around 20 airstrikes, 56 assault waves and launched four missile attacks at Ukraine’s troops along the front lines, Tarnavsky told the outlet, but said that Kyiv’s forces were “firmly holding the line along the Avdiivka front.”

Ukraine army spokesperson Oleksandr Shutpun, who also spoke with AFP, echoed that Russia had “doubled its artillery fire and airstrikes,” in the area, and “has also intensified ground infantry attacks, and is using armored vehicles.”

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) map from November 28, 2023, shows the state of play around Donetsk City. Institute for the Study of War

Nearby, Russian forces also conducted unsuccessful offensive operations west and southwest of Donestk City, according to a map compiled by the ISW. Donetsk, which is located less than 10 miles south of Avddivka, is currently under Russian occupation along with the surrounding region.

The Ukrainian General Staff said in a Facebook update on Wednesday that Kyiv’s forces fought off six Russian attacks near Donetsk over the past day, and that 10 settlements in the area came under heavy artillery and mortar fire by Russia.

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