Putin says Russian army has shifted to "active defense" in Ukraine

He made the statement in an interview with a reporter from the Rossiya TV channel.

Amidst the intensification of the Russian offensives in various sectors of the Ukrainian frontline, the Russian leader announced yet another "accomplishment of objectives." Putin further emphasized that the Kremlin does not conceal its intentions.

According to the Russian president, the attacks by the Russian Armed Forces, which have become more frequent in the Zaporizhzhia, Avdiivka, and Kupyansk sectors, are a so-called response to Ukraine's preparations for offensive operations. He again called the Ukrainian counteroffensive a failure.

"We see it, we know it. And we are also responding accordingly. If you take a broad view, the settlements there may be called differently, I'm speaking in a generalized way. Yes, this is an active defense with the improvement of our position in certain areas," Putin said.

Russian offensive on the key city of Avdiivka in eastern Donetsk region

On October 11, the Institute for the Study of War noted that the Russian occupying army had intensified its offensive around Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. The city has been a frontline one for almost 10 years, and now Russian troops are trying to encircle it.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that in the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 10 attacks near Avdiivka and another 8 attacks east of Stepove and southeast of Sieverne in the Donetsk region.

The head of Avdiivka City Military Administration, Vitaliy Barabash, reported shelling of Avdiivka, Donetsk region, which killed an elderly man and wounded two civilians.

On October 12, experts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) named the real reasons for the Russian offensive on Avdiivka.

Vitaliy Barabash, head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration, noted that Russian troops are trying to concentrate their forces north of the city, launching assault operations.

On October 13, the ISW reported that in three days, Russian troops had captured 4.52 square kilometers of territory from different directions near Avdiivka. The occupying Russian army suffered significant losses in equipment and manpower.