Relentless battles rage through the night in Ukraine’s eastern city of Avdiivka

Russian troops continue bombing Avdiivka, intensifying air strikes, marking day 4 of the new Russian offensive. 

The delivery of humanitarian aid and products to the city had to be stopped. Ukrainian forces are holding their positions and repelling assaults, the head of the Avdiiivka city military administration, Vitalii Barabash, said, Rubryka reports.

According to the official, the battles, both shooting and artillery duels, are "fierce and really non-stop," and the Russian troops are "hitting with everything they have."

"Aviation is active… The night was ablaze in Avdiivka. There were several air-missile strikes on the city… Dozens in one night in the city itself," said Barabash, adding that Russian assaults do not stop "neither day nor night," and the invaders "climb like cockroaches — a lot of them."

Earlier on Thursday, the Russian troops actively used armored vehicles for the offensive and marched in columns. "They have a lot of equipment and personnel, they are still bringing fresh ones," Barabash added.

The official said that the Russians still want to encircle Avdiivka and are focused on strikes from the north and south. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian soldiers "stand unchanged in their positions for the fourth day. "I am sure that they will hold out because these are not people; they are titans," he added.

The Russians are shelling not only towns directly on the front line but also hitting rear villages. On Friday night, they shelled the villages of the Ocheretyn community.

The head of the city administration said the authorities confirmed the death of one person and the wounding of four citizens. He added that two more remain under the rubble of the high-rise buildings destroyed by the Russian strikes, but "we can say that people died under the rubble; we just do not see the bodies."

According to Barabash, logistics in Avdiivka are currently "very complicated," and during the escalation period, the authorities have stopped supplying the city with food and humanitarian aid.

"We are only trying to ensure evacuation. If people are willing and want to leave, we are trying to find loopholes in these shellings," the official said.

Barabash also said, "Basically everything is available — food, hygiene, and medicine — in Avdiivka" in sufficient quantity and with a reserve for several months.

Rubryka reported that the Russian troops did not stop trying to break through Ukrainian defenses near Avdiika but without success. Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 20 attacks in the areas of Avdiivka, Lastochkine, Tonenke, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske in the Donetsk region.