Capturing Avdiivka holds political significance for Russia – UK intelligence
Photo: open sources
Over the past week, Russian forces have continued attacks on the outskirts of the city of Avdiivka and the surrounding villages. In doing so, the Russians are attempting to encircle the city and cut it off.
The UK Ministry of Defense shared this information in a daily update, citing intelligence data, Rubryka reports.
Battles have been raging around Avdiivka for almost ten years, and its proximity to occupied Donetsk makes it politically significant for Russia.
Recent Russian advances in this area could bring them closer to the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant — a large industrial complex that produces coke and various chemical substances and holds a key tactical position north of the city.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 16 November 2023.
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The plant is situated close to the main road to Avdiivka, and if Russian forces capture it, the supply route to the city will become increasingly challenging for Ukraine.
However, the industrial facility provides Ukraine with a local defensive advantage, and Russian forces may suffer significant personnel losses if they attempt to storm the facility, according to British intelligence.
Situation naer Avdiivka
Vitalii Barabash, the head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration, reported in a telethon that Russian forces had become active on the Avdiivka front in the past few days. The situation is very intense in the industrial zone.
"They are conducting assault operations there using armored and wheeled vehicles. They storm from the flanks — from the south, with slightly less activity from the north. But they still deploy infantry almost around the clock. And, of course, they shell — around the clock — positions around the city and the city itself," he said.
According to Barabash, about 30 mass shelling incidents occurred in the community's territory in a day.
"And, of course, air bombings, air-to-ground missile strikes. Unfortunately, I can't remember the last day when there weren't. Every day, they hit the city. Mostly on multi-story buildings. There were 12 such strikes yesterday," added the head of the military administration.
Since October 10, the Russian occupiers have not ceased attempts to capture Avdiivka.
On November 4, British intelligence reported that during the assault on Avdiivka, Russian occupation forces lost about 200 armored vehicles.
Estonian intelligence predicted that the front line near Avdiivka would likely remain a point where Russian occupiers would exert their main efforts.
As Rubryka reported, from February 24, 2022, to November 16, 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 315,620 invaders, including 1,330 troops, in the last 24 hours.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue assault operations south of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, conduct an offensive operation on the Melitopol front, and maintain defense in the Avdiivka area. Over the past day, there have been 65 combat clashes on the front.
