Operations in the Avdiivka sector continue unabated, despite the fact that the Russians have moved a significant group of forces to other sectors, such as Kupyansk.
What Happened in Avdiivka in the Last Hours?
In the direction of Avdiivka and based on new Russian reports, Russian units of the Center force group occupied new advantageous positions on the battlefield and bloodied concentrations of manpower and equipment of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces and the 107th Defense Brigade in the area of the Tonenkoye settlement.
In addition, a total of 7 Ukrainian counterattacks were repelled in the areas of the settlements of Novgorodskoye, Lesinkoye, Lastokin and Novobakhmutovka. This was first reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense itself in an update on February 25. During these battles the Ukrainian army is said to have lost up to 100 soldiers, 4 armored fighting vehicles, 8 wheeled vehicles, a Grad multiple rocket launcher, a D-30 cannon and a Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.
At the same time, all and more Ukrainian media are reporting the complete control of Lastokin by Russian forces, as well as the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Severny due to the lack of logistical support for the Kiev forces there.
In recent hours, social media accounts have suggested that Russian troops penetrated the Stepovoye-Petrovskoye-Lastokin-Severnoye defense line, forcing the Ukrainians to retreat in disorder. This line is known as the “Sirsky line”.
Thus, the Ukrainian media write that only the settlement of Tonenkoye stands in the way of the Russian army in the area between Avdiivka and the Vovcha river.
