Head of Avdiivka Military Administration Barabash names Russia’s main target in Avdiivka direction

The head of Avdiivka City Military Administration, Vitaliy Barabash, shared the information on Espreso TV.

"This is one of the priority areas for Russia. The main goal of the invaders is to cut off the logistics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the road. The closest point is from Stepove, so they are deploying a lot of forces there to implement this plan," he said.

Today, Stepove is fully controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, even though the situation is difficult there, noted Barabash.

"Yesterday and today, the occupiers did not take any serious actions, which allows the Ukrainian Armed Forces to clean up this area a bit. According to Novobakhmutivka, the Russians see that they cannot gain a foothold in Stepove, so they are trying to bypass it from their right flank," he added.

• According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in the Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back Russian troops, who keep trying to surround Avdiivka. Ukrainian soldiers are steadfastly holding the line, inflicting significant losses on the occupying forces. The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled four attacks near Stepove and Avdiivka and another 14 attacks near Pervomaiske and Nevelske, Donetsk region, over the past day.