Battle for Avdiivka: Ukraine needs to withstand week and half, says military analyst Hetman

He shared this opinion on Espreso TV.

"The battle near Avdiivka is a localized military clash, because this city does not have much strategic significance. If our garrison has to be withdrawn from Avdiivka if it is likely to be surrounded, it will not significantly affect not only the Ukrainian-Russian war, but even the eastern front from Kupyansk to Vuhledar. We continue to hold our positions there because we are destroying a large number of enemy forces and equipment. The enemies outnumber us 5-7 times, coming from six directions and trying to enter the industrial zone. So far, they have not succeeded. We'll see how much more manpower and equipment the enemy will be able to add there," the military analyst commented.

The reserve major of the National Guard added that Putin gave a political order to the Russian army to surround Avdiivka by December 15, so that it would happen 90 days before the "elections" in Russia announced for March 15-17, 2024.

"These attacks on Avdiivka, Marinka, and other areas are not military in nature, but political. And the deadline is December 14, when Putin's speech is scheduled to be delivered. I am sure that if they fail to capture Avdiivka by December 15-16, the fighting will not stop on December 17-18, but it will not be as intense, because the point, the political reason, will be lost. The Russians are well aware of this and will use everything they can. If they fail to capture Avdiivka, they will say that they repelled our very powerful offensive. Therefore, we have to hold out for just a week and a half, and if we manage to hold these positions, the intensity will increase for a day or two, and then it will be pointless," noted Oleksiy Hetman.

• On December 6, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops, said that the Russian troops had intensified the use of kamikaze drones, aircraft and artillery in the Avdiivka sector.
• In addition, the Institute for the Study of War noted that the Ukrainian military advanced east of the railroad tracks in the area of the Avdiivka Coke Plant and forced the Russian army to withdraw from two positions