Russia adopts new tactic in intense fight for Donetsk’s Avdiivka
Ukrainian soldiers fire from a 120mm mortar on Dec. 7, 2023, in Avdiivka, Ukraine.
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Ground fighting has intensified as Ukrainian forces battle to hold off Russian advances on the war-torn city of Avdiivka, officials say.
Located 22 km north of the Russian-held regional center of Donetsk, Avdiivka has come under heavy bombardment by Russian forces for months, and just 1,500 residents are reported to remain from a pre-war population of more than 32,000.
AVDIIVKA, UKRAINE – DECEMBER 7: Panorama of the city from a bird’s-eye view, shot on a drone, covered with snow on December 7, 2023 in Avdiivka, Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia have recently claimed gains in the Avdiivka, where Russia is continuing a long-running campaign to capture the city, located in the Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Region. (Photo by Kostya Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)
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Ukrainian serviceman Andriy Shyshuk said Russia had switched tactics to sending groups of up to five men on the offensive along with armored vehicles, air cover and bursts of heavy fire, Reuters reported.
Separately, a Ukrainian military spokesperson said the number of combat clashes on the front line had “significantly increased,” and that Russian losses of personnel and equipment were mounting.
AVDIIVKA, UKRAINE – DECEMBER 7: Ukrainian military soldiers fire from the MT-12 or 2A29 gun “Rapira” is a Soviet smoothbore 100-mm anti-tank gun on December 7, 2023 in Avdiivka, Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia have recently claimed gains in the Avdiivka, where Russia is continuing a long-running campaign to capture the city, located in the Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Region. (Photo by Kostya Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)
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