Ukrainian city Avdiivka under siege: 40,000 Russian troops amass for a major assault

Avdiivka, a city in the Donetsk region that was home to over 30,000 residents until recently, was the object of a large-scale Russian attack in October 2023. Initially, Putin's army made significant progress, but the Ukrainian resistance halted the advancing Russian troops over time. The fierce battle continues.

The ISW, a reputable source for events on the Ukrainian front, suggests that Avdiivka might soon become the main focus of Russian operations. According to ISW's data, Russians have amassed tens of thousands of troops to ramp up the assault on the city and potentially conquer it soon.

This is reportedly what President Vladimir Putin anticipates, even preceding the elections.

In one of the ISW's recent reports examining the situation around Avdiivka, we learn that the Russians have been launching attacks from the south with minimal success. They are also continuing operations from the north of the city. However, the pace has significantly slowed compared to autumn 2023.

Nonetheless, the Russians are not backing down from taking over Avdiivka. They plan to seize the city, one building at a time, per the strategy used in the Bachmut campaign. They have rallied significant forces for this objective and show no signs of receding, demonstrating a determination to conquer the city regardless of the costs.

Maksym Morozov, a Major in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, announced on January 25 that Russian forces have amassed around 40,000 soldiers near Avdiivka and are preparing to intensify their offensive against the city - reminds the ISW.

Whether the Russian forces will accelerate their offensive remains uncertain. According to the ISW, their strategy for Avdiivka will mirror that used for other eastern Ukrainian cities: deploying vast forces, disregarding the losses, to gain even the most minor progress.

U.S. analysts say the potential capture of Avdiivka by Russian forces won't destabilize the Donetsk region's defense despite the city's strategic importance. Having been the only city that has not fallen into the hands of invaders since 2014, it symbolically represents the Ukrainian Armed Forces' resilience.