Russian forces are deploying all available resources in their push for Avdiivka, driven by the urgency imposed by time and Putin. Previously, the city faced an average of 150 guided aerial bombs per week; now, the average has surged to 50 per day. While guided aerial bombs lack precision, their impact devastates the landscape upon impact.
Over the week, invaders have dangerously approached the main logistical artery at two points. They successfully breached from "Tsarska Okhota" through a one-story building to the west, reaching the railway and closing in on the T-05-05 road—crucial for supplying our "Zenit" position. This has effectively blocked our soldiers in this position. Additionally, Russians are advancing east of Opytne, aiming to encircle the strategically vital defense point of Avdiivka. A counterattack is needed to break the blockade.
In the northern part of Avdiivka, the invaders expanded their control near the sand quarry and lakes, making gains in the garden community buildings. They not only crossed the railway track but also severed a crucial logistics road (00542) for almost a kilometer, impacting Industrialnyi Avenue. This cut jeopardizes the defense of most of Avdiivka, excluding positions near the coke-chemical plant.
Furthermore, over the past week, the invaders progressed several hundred meters towards Pervomaiske, located to the south of Avdiivka.
To address the critical situation, the General Staff deployed new reserves to Avdiivka, reinforcing the 110th Brigade and partially sending battalions from the 3rd Assault Brigade. This brigade demonstrated effectiveness in previous engagements, notably during the counteroffensive south of Bakhmut, where they liberated strategically important villages, including Klishchiivka. The assault brigade could be the last opportunity for a counteroffensive in Avdiivka or to relieve its defenders and guide them to controlled sectors of the city.
During the night, Defense Forces destroyed a significant column of equipment between Verkhnyotoretsk and Kamianka, which the Russians intended to transfer to Avdiivka.
In January and early February, Russian forces faced resistance in Ivanivske and Bohdanivka, but their assault on Chasiv Yar not only persisted but intensified. This week, through significant drone and artillery strikes, the Russians forced the Armed Forces of Ukraine back about 3 km from positions between Bohdanivka and Ivanivske. Only 2.5 km separate the nearest enemy position from the outskirts of Chasiv Yar. The city is now gearing up for defense, realizing it lacked a properly prepared defensive line.
The battles in the Vuhledar direction are of significant importance, second only to Avdiivka. The occupiers aim to maneuver behind the Defense Forces in Vuhledar, causing a substantial collapse in the front line in this section of the Donetsk region. Currently, intense fighting is occurring around the village of Novomykhailivka, besieged from three sides by the enemy. In recent days, Russian forces successfully penetrated the eastern outskirts of the village and re-approached it from the south. Moreover, they managed to advance several hundred meters along the road connecting Solodke and Vodyane. Their control area has expanded to the north of this road, positioning them to potentially launch attacks on the defenders of Novomykhailivka from the rear.
Simultaneously, another group of the Russian forces is advancing from the northern side, persistently attacking the village of Pobyeda from the occupied Marinka. This offensive outlines the initial stages of forming a larger encirclement around the villages situated to the west of Novomykhailivka.
The Armed Forces achieved unexpected successes on the southern front. General Tarnavskyi reported that the Russians suffered significant losses, with 645 soldiers in a single day and nearly 3,000 in a week. While the front line saw limited changes, Defense Forces secured a gray area south of Kamianske. Intense battles continue around Robotyne, with the front line shifting back and forth. On the western flank of Robotyne, the Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully pushed invaders towards the village of Kopani.
Throughout the week, our drones targeted the Ilsk and Afipsky oil refineries in the Krasnodar Territory, both in close proximity. Additionally, a fire, reportedly due to "scheduled works," broke out at an oil refinery in Moscow. January-February attacks on oil depots and plants led to a 37% reduction in Russian gasoline exports and a 23% decrease in diesel fuel exports. This marks just the initial impact.
A Moscow-based facility, responsible for manufacturing, repairing, and maintaining MiG aircraft, experienced a fire. Another explosion occurred in Izhevsk at a plant specializing in rocket engines, including those for "Iskander" missiles.
The maps presented are based on information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other reliable sources. However, they offer only a rough representation of trends in the war zone and may lack precision.