Ukraine said its troops were making determined efforts to breach Russian defensive lines in the key southern Zaporizhzhia region.
Recent data from the Deep State portal suggests that Ukrainian forces have gained ground, moving closer to the village of Verbove.
Serhiy Hrabskiy, a prominent Ukrainian military expert, said on Inter TV that Russia's deployment of its elite assault units around Avdiivka signifies the city's tactical importance.
He added that the loss of Avdiivka to Russian control could provide them with dominant control of the Donetsk transport hub, facilitating easier troop movements from the east to the south. Such a shift could compound challenges for Ukrainian defense forces on the southern front.
Further underlining the intensity of the conflict, the US Institute for the Study of War reported substantial Russian equipment losses in the region, including up to 200 armored vehicles.
(jh/gs)
Source: IAR
