Russia says 'improved' position around east Ukraine town
Published: 04:10 PM,Oct 11,2023 | EDITED : 08:10 PM,Oct 11,2023
MOSCOW: Russia on Wednesday said its forces had strengthened their position on the frontline near Avdiivka, a day after Ukraine warned Moscow was stepping up strikes to encircle the eastern town.
Avdiivka is symbolically and strategically important to Kyiv, lying just north of the Moscow-controlled city of Donetsk that was seized by separatist forces in 2014.
It has since become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance against Moscow, with Kyiv clinging on there despite relentless Russian attacks during the Kremlin's almost 20-month long offensive.
'Actions from the southern group of forces supported by aviation, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems, improved the situation along the front line in the vicinity of Avdiivka,' the Russian defence ministry said.
Local Ukrainian officials said that Moscow's forces had launched an artillery attack on the town in the morning and were firing incessantly.
'Battles continued throughout the night' in the north and south of the town, the head of the town's administration Vitaliy Barabash said Wednesday.
Barabash said Ukrainian troops were 'most likely finishing' repelling Russian forces.
Ukrainian officials were 'engaged in persuading people to evacuate every day', he said.
Ukraine's armed forces said Russian forces had 'intensified actions' in several areas including Avdiivka.
'Our defenders repelled all enemy attacks and prevented the loss of lines and positions,' military spokesman Andriy Kovalyov said.
Meanwhile, - Ukraine on Wednesday called for greater global support to help with demining large swaths of the war-torn country's land, warning that up to a third of its territory could be contaminated with ordnance.
'Russian mines and shells in Ukraine are a problem that must be solved together,' Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said via video link during a donors' conference on demining in the Croatian capital Zagreb.
Shmyhal said up to six million people were actively at risk from extensive mining across Ukraine.
If the demining efforts are not increased 'it will take many decades to clear Ukraine of mines', Shmyhal noted.
Ukrainian forces are currently locked in a bitter counteroffensive against entrenched Russian positions along the heavily-mined front line.
Mines have proven to be a formidable obstacle in slowing Ukrainian and Russian advances across the battlefield.
Even as the war rages on, Kyiv has called on international partners with experience in demining to help clear the ordnance.
Ukraine has made demining a priority, while dozens countries and partner organisations having pledged some 300 million dollars to help with the effort, Shmyhal said. — AFP
Avdiivka is symbolically and strategically important to Kyiv, lying just north of the Moscow-controlled city of Donetsk that was seized by separatist forces in 2014.
It has since become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance against Moscow, with Kyiv clinging on there despite relentless Russian attacks during the Kremlin's almost 20-month long offensive.
'Actions from the southern group of forces supported by aviation, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems, improved the situation along the front line in the vicinity of Avdiivka,' the Russian defence ministry said.
Local Ukrainian officials said that Moscow's forces had launched an artillery attack on the town in the morning and were firing incessantly.
'Battles continued throughout the night' in the north and south of the town, the head of the town's administration Vitaliy Barabash said Wednesday.
Barabash said Ukrainian troops were 'most likely finishing' repelling Russian forces.
Ukrainian officials were 'engaged in persuading people to evacuate every day', he said.
Ukraine's armed forces said Russian forces had 'intensified actions' in several areas including Avdiivka.
'Our defenders repelled all enemy attacks and prevented the loss of lines and positions,' military spokesman Andriy Kovalyov said.
Meanwhile, - Ukraine on Wednesday called for greater global support to help with demining large swaths of the war-torn country's land, warning that up to a third of its territory could be contaminated with ordnance.
'Russian mines and shells in Ukraine are a problem that must be solved together,' Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said via video link during a donors' conference on demining in the Croatian capital Zagreb.
Shmyhal said up to six million people were actively at risk from extensive mining across Ukraine.
If the demining efforts are not increased 'it will take many decades to clear Ukraine of mines', Shmyhal noted.
Ukrainian forces are currently locked in a bitter counteroffensive against entrenched Russian positions along the heavily-mined front line.
Mines have proven to be a formidable obstacle in slowing Ukrainian and Russian advances across the battlefield.
Even as the war rages on, Kyiv has called on international partners with experience in demining to help clear the ordnance.
Ukraine has made demining a priority, while dozens countries and partner organisations having pledged some 300 million dollars to help with the effort, Shmyhal said. — AFP