Russia wants Avdiivka as leverage in negotiations – military expert 

He reported the information on Espreso TV.

Their objective is to surround Avdiivka and secure a victory there as a means to gain leverage. 

"I'm not sure why they think we'll agree to negotiate with them. But by achieving this, they hope to bring Ukraine to the negotiation table and stop this war on the current front lines. This includes the areas they've taken, like Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions. Then, they might plan to gather strength and, in the medium term, launch another attack under more favorable conditions," Popovych explained.

Popovych mentioned that the Russian occupying forces will keep pressing Ukrainian defenses in Avdiivka. Many Russian military units are prepared to launch an offensive on Avdiivka.

"The situation is tough there, and the occupiers are sending reinforcements to encircle Avdiivka and reach their objectives. They're making progress in the northern part of Avdiivka, up to the railway. Progress is slower in the southern part of Avdiivka, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to defend against Russian positions," the military observer reported.

In a broader sense, Russian occupying forces believe that the current global situation is in their favor regarding these goals. It's uncertain how much support Ukraine will receive from the USA, Popovych added.

"The new Speaker of the House of Representatives may say things, but it hasn't had a significant impact so far," Popovych concluded.

• The Institute for the Study of War predicts that significant losses of Russian equipment near Avdiivka may hamper Russia’s long-term offensive capabilities.

• On October 27, President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussed the situation at the front with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Rishi Sunak.

• Serhii Tsekhotskyi, an officer with the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakiv Handziuk, highlighted the success of Ukrainian Defense Forces in repelling Russian attacks near Avdiivka.

• On October 28, the UK Ministry of Defense received information that Russian troops were unlikely to fulfill the Kremlin's expectations regarding the capture of Avdiivka.