Now is one of the most difficult periods in defense of Avdiivka - military expert

He spoke about this on Espreso TV channel.

"Avdiivka remains one of the most difficult areas of the frontline. The number of hostilities is increasing along the entire perimeter around the city. Earlier there were three directions of Russia's offensive. We talked about the direction from the north, where we meant holding the enemy in the area of Stepove, these are the northern approaches to Avdiivka. But now the main dynamics are developing in the north of the city itself, where the enemy is advancing to the area between the coke plant and Avdiivka itself. Over the weekend, the Russian troops made some progress there, taking advantage of the bad weather, which made reconnaissance difficult and artillery less effective," the military expert noted.

According to him, as the Russian army has taken to the streets in the north of the city, there is a risk that the northern parts of the city where fighting is taking place will be about a kilometer and a half or less to the main highway, which is the logistics route for Avdiivka itself.

"There are active hostilities there now. Our forces are trying to hold their positions and drive the enemy out of this area. But besides the north, the enemy, using its superiority in manpower and equipment, also attacked in the east, in the area of the Donetsk filtering station. The Russian troops are trying to put pressure on Ukraine's defense there. The most difficult situation is the movement to Avdiivka from the north. The rest will depend on the availability of forces and reserves on the Ukrainian side and the activity on the Russian side. We are currently facing one of the most difficult periods in the defense of Avdiivka as Russia is trying to take offensive actions from all directions. Our defenders have been effectively holding Avdiivka for 4 months and inflicting enormous losses on the Russian enemy," summarized Serhiy Zgurets.

• On February 3, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that in the Avdiivka sector, 20 Russian attacks were repelled in the area of Avdiivka and 3 more attacks in the area of Pervomaiske, Donetsk region.
• On February 4, in an evening report, the General Staff reported that in the Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 21 attacks in the areas of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka and 10 more attacks near 4 more localities in the Donetsk region.