(MENAFN) The UK Defense Ministry has reported that Russian forces have been making creeping gains around the Ukrainian-held Donbas town of Avdiivka, immediately north of Donetsk city, over the past three weeks. According to the ministry's latest intelligence update published on Twitter, the Russian operation has largely been carried out by the 1st Army Corps of the Donetsk People's Republic, local personnel who will know the terrain well. Avdiivka has been on the front line of the Donbas conflict since 2014, and the city is now largely destroyed.
The sprawling Avdiivka Coke Plant complex is likely to be seen as particularly defendable key terrain as the battle progresses, according to British analysts. The situation in Avdiivka is tactically similar to that in the larger town of Bakhmut, further north. Ukrainian forces continue organized defense, but their supply lines to the west are increasingly threatened by the Russian envelopment operation, British intelligence said.
The situation in Avdiivka is a cause for concern, as the town remains a strategically important location in the conflict. The city has been the site of multiple clashes between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists since the outbreak of the war in 2014. The Ukrainian military has been fighting to hold the line in the area, but the recent gains by Russian forces are a worrying sign.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. Russia has denied involvement in the conflict, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The international community has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but progress has been slow.
As the situation in Avdiivka continues to develop, there are likely to be ongoing questions about the role of Russia in the conflict and what can be done to bring an end to the suffering of those affected by the war. The UK Defense Ministry's intelligence update serves as a reminder of the ongoing violence and instability in the region, and highlights the need for continued attention and support from the international community.
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