Ukrainian army gains new ground in Avdiivka area, repels Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia sector

Commander of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops Oleksandr Tarnavskyi wrote this on Telegram.

He noted that over the past day in the area of responsibility of the Tavria forces, Russia launched 26 airstrikes, 33 assault actions, and 803 artillery attacks.

"In the Avdiivka sector, our defenders repelled five Russian attacks in the areas of Novobakhmutivka, Lastochkyne, and Pervomaiske. Here Ukrainian troops have consolidated their positions on new defense lines and are successfully repelling the Russian invaders’ attempts to develop the offensive,'' noted Tarnavskyi.

In the Marinka sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding back the Russian army in the areas of Heorhiivka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka. There, the Russian troops, with the support of aviation, tried to break through the Ukrainian defense 18 times.

In the Zaporizhzhia sector, near Robotyne, the Russian army tried to attack the Ukrainian Armed Forces' positions 10 times.

"Here, the Russians returned to the tactics of small assault groups involving several units of armored vehicles. These offensive attempts are being stopped, and the enemy is being destroyed on the outskirts of Robotyne," said the commander.

According to him, the total Russian losses in the Tavria areas amounted to: 624 Russian soldiers, 4 tanks, 21 armored combat vehicles, 4 artillery systems, 7 vehicles, 1 UR-77 demining unit, which is called Zmey Gorynych. The Defense Forces also destroyed 1 munitions depot and 239 UAVs of various types.

• As of the end of the day on February 18, the intensity on the frontline had somewhat decreased, despite the fact that in the Zaporizhzhia sector, some Russian troops managed to break through the defense near Verbove and break through to Robotyne.
• On February 19, Oleksandr Borodin, a spokesman for the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, spoke about the Russian losses in Avdiivka.