Russia wants to gain symbolic victory, pushing ahead on Avdiivka
The Russians currently see the occupation or encirclement of the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast as a symbolic victory.
Source: Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, the spokesman of the Joint Press Centre of the Defence Forces of the Tavriia front, on the air of the national joint 24/7 newscast
Quote: "The enemy sees Avdiivka as an opportunity to gain some kind of symbolic victory and turn the tide of hostilities. If at the beginning of the large-scale invasion Avdiivka was considered by the enemy as something insignificant, then today the occupation or encirclement of Avdiivka for them is perhaps the only one they can achieve at this stage.
Therefore, the enemy actively uses aircraft and continues offensive actions."
Details: Shtupun also said Russian forces "deployed a lot of infantry and armoured vehicles on the Avdiivka front" a few days ago. "As of now, we record a decrease in the number of armoured vehicles, but the enemy is trying to advance with infantry," the colonel said.
Background:
- In the evening of 10 October, Shtupun reported that Ukraine's Armed Forces repelled all attacks by the Russian forces in the vicinity of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, where the Russian occupiers resumed their assaults.
- Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analysed the Russian attacks around Avdiivka and concluded that these advances at tactical level are unlikely to lead to broader operational and strategic victories.
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