ISW reports active Russian attacks near Avdiivka

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

Geolocated footage published on December 8 indicates that Russian forces advanced to the sewage treatment plant south of Krasnohorivka (5km northwest of Avdiivka).

ISW also reported, citing Russian sources, that on December 7 and 8, Russian troops advanced toward Novokalynove (13 km north-east of Avdiivka), to the outskirts of the Avdiivka Coke Plant northwest of Avdiivka, and in an industrial area southeast of Avdiivka.

On December 8, a Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces are consolidating their positions in Stepove (3 km northwest of Avdiivka) and clearing the settlement, whereas another Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces maintain positions on the eastern outskirts of Stepove.

Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked east of Novobakhmutivka (9 km northwest of Avdiivka); south of Tonenke (5 km west of Avdiivka); and near Stepove, Avdiivka, and Pervomaiske (10 km southwest of Avdiivka)

Russian sources also claimed on December 7 and 8 that Russian troops attacked north of the Avdiivka coke plant and near Ocheretyne (15 km northwest of Avdiivka), Novokalynove, and Sieverne (6 km west of Avdiivka and the industrial zone).

On December 8, positional battles are ongoing in the Vodyane (7km southwest of Avdiivka) and Tonenke directions.

A Russian source claims that difficult weather conditions have slowed the tempo of Russian and Ukrainian operations near Avdiivka.

Ukrainian Tavriisk Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun stated that there are more than 40,000 Russian troops fighting in the Avdiivka direction and that Russian forces are redeploying reserves from Storm-Z units and mobilized personnel who lack training and provisions to the area in order to make up for losses.

On December 8, Russian troops continued their offensive in western Zaporizhzhia region and confirmed advances. Geolocation footage released on December 7 shows Russian troops advancing south of Robotyne toward Novoprokopivka (2 km south of Robotyne).

On December 8, Ukraine's General Staff reported that Ukrainian troops had repelled Russian ground attacks near Robotyne and west of Verbove. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated that Russian forces are taking advantage of the reduced tempo of Ukrainian offensive operations in Zaporizhia Oblast to reorganize their force grouping and create operational reserves but noted that Russian forces currently cannot allocate significant resources to these reserves.

• In the evening, the General Staff reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 32 attacks in the Avdiivka sector.