Ukraine’s desperate battle to save key eastern town of Avdiivka from waves of Putin’s forces
Ukraine has sent battle-hardened troops from a crack unit into the “hell” of fighting in the key eastern town of Avdiivka – as Kyiv seeks to keep it out of the hands of Vladimir Putin’s forces.
After months of heavy fighting, Russia is trying to encircle and capture Avdiivka and use it as a stepping stone towards its aim of taking full control of the industrial region of Donbas, made up of the areas of Donetsk – where Avdiivka sits – and Luhansk. Ukraine has vowed to ensure Russia advances no further into its territory, with the fight for control of Avdiivka taking on a symbolic significance to both sides on a level similar to the town of Bakhmut roughly 60 miles away.
That was the last significant claim of territory by Russia, in May last year, with the mercenary Wagner Group part of the vanguard.
The fight for Avdiivka has , with Russian forces appearing earlier this year.
