Ukraine leaving Avdiivka won't change anything - reserve major

Hetman said this on Espreso TV.

"If Avdiivka has to be abandoned, it will not have a significant, strategic impact on the eastern front line, from Kupyansk to Vuhledar," the veteran said. 

According to the reserve major, the American Institute for the Study of War said that Russia is most likely spending such a large amount of heavy equipment and force not because this object is so important to them from a military point of view, but rather from a political point of view, so that they can show some victories.

"The front line cannot be stationary because it passes through firing positions that are constantly changing. No one will keep troops there just to keep them there, especially if there is a real possibility of encirclement, the command will withdraw the troops," Hetman said.

• On October 30, head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration Vitaliy Barabash said that the Russian forces were regrouping near Avdiivka. A new wave of assaults is expected in the coming days.
• The Institute for War Studies noted that the Russian occupation forces are probably preparing for another wave of ground attacks near Avdiivka, Donetsk region, despite their heavy losses. Later, Barabash said that there had been no third wave of attacks on Avdiivka yet, but the enemy was keeping the tension around the city.
• On November 8, the last 6 employees of the Avdiivka Coke Plant were evacuated.
• Estonian intelligence chief Ants Kiviselg said that Russian forces will try to capture Avdiivka by the end of the year, despite the fact that the city has no strategic importance.
• On November 9, the head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration, Vitaliy Barabash, said that the enemy was preparing for an even bigger attack on Avdiivka.