Russia forced to stop massive active counterattacks in Avdiivka — General Malomuzh

Mykola Malomuzh, General of the Ukrainian Army, Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine in 2005-2010, shared the information on Espreso TV channel.

"In fact, we are devaluing all the strikes, and now the enemy is forced not only to stop, but also to stop active mass counterattacks. Sectorally, the enemy is still trying to break up in small groups, to move on to surround us more closely, but they are no longer able to do so. I think we can withstand this format. Now the Ukrainian Armed Forces are destroying the occupiers' advanced units to tighten the enemy's attack systems. Their destruction is a prerequisite not only for the defense of Avdiivka, but possibly for an offensive," noted Malomuzh.

According to him, the main goal of Russian troops today is to encircle Avdiivka. 

"The enemy is trying to come in from the south and north, then try to move on. More and more forces are accumulating. At first there were three additional brigades, now there are a number of assault brigades, especially a highly professional separate brigade that took part in other areas," said Malomuzh.

He emphasized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have clearly defined a model of actions in this area.

"Today the Ukrainian Armed Forces are destroying the enemy near Avdiivka and preventing it from being surrounded. The Ukrainian side has favorable operational and combat positions," summarized Malomuzh.

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. 

On October 17, ISW noted that in the coming days, Russian forces may intensify their attempts to encircle Avdiivka, and British intelligence believes that the Russian offensive on the city will be the largest since the beginning of the year, as they want to occupy Donetsk region within its administrative boundaries.