Marinka has fallen. Russian flag flies over western outskirts

Reports from Ukrainian agency Unian suggest that the Russian flag is now flying over the western outskirts of the city of Marinka, situated in the Donetsk region. It was reported that Ukrainian defenders were pushed back to the "last two defended houses". If these reports are accurate, this implies that Ukrainian forces have lost full control over the city.

British intelligence reported on December 5 that recent weeks have seen Russian forces advancing through the city's ruins, asserting control over a majority of the urban area.

Based on daily intelligence reports, Marinka, with a pre-war population of approximately 9,000, has been a front-line city since 2014 and is utterly devastated. Aerial footage from drones shows most buildings reduced to rubble.

Resumed Russian aggression towards Marinka is perceived as part of an autumn offensive, with a priority to gain control over the remaining parts of the Donetsk region—it remains a likely major objective in the Kremlin's war strategy, according to reports.

On Saturday evening, updates from the Ukrainian forces' general staff indicated that Avdiivka and Marinka were the primary targets of intense Russian attacks on the front line.

Within the Avdiivka region, Ukrainian troops were successful in fending off 35 attacks, while they repelled 24 attacks in the area of Marinka, as reported by the Ukrainian army's general staff.

It was reported that a total of 95 encounters took place throughout the day. Battles also occurred near Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, and along the Shakhtarsk and Zaporizhia fronts.