Russian forces attempt to sever road to Avdiivka

Persistent Russian strikes on the road leading to Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast have impeded evacuation and humanitarian aid deliveries to the city.

Source: Vitalii Barabash, Head of Avdiivka City Military Administration, on Radio Liberty

Quote: "The logistics are highly problematic. The 22 kilometres to the city are constantly under fire, both day and night. Therefore, this greatly complicates the evacuation and the delivery of humanitarian aid. All the logistics are through one road. Of course, the enemy is trying to sever it.

The enemy is trying to hold it under constant fire. Whenever they have the opportunity, and the weather permits, they launch Orlan uncrewed aerial vehicles to watch the road. Any movement is a trigger for them to open fire."

Details: The official stated there had been no evacuation over the past three days. And not due to the risks of Russian strikes, but because people are unwilling to leave. There are 1,601 people in the city as of the morning of 23 October.

Quote: "A terrible experience even in our hromada [an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]. This is the village of Opytne, which belongs to our hromada. When it was partially occupied, we could not bring humanitarian aid there, and in fact, it was impossible to enter.

And they [the Russians] know all about it. And these things don't even affect them much. The answers are straightforward: 'We hope it doesn't come to that; [we hope] that our folks will push them away as far as possible, and it will be quieter here, and everything will be fine'."

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