Industrial city environs

Russian troops continue to advance around Avdiivka

Russian soldiers in Avdiivka(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The Russian armed forces are currently advancing on the towns and villages surrounding Avdiivka. "The capture of Avdiivka is not enough. They are still attacking," said a Ukrainian drone pilot. First it was the turn of the surrounding villages, then the next two larger towns.

The Russian troops captured the industrial town of Avdiivka last week. Around 1,000 civilians were still living there at the end; before the war began, the town had more than 30,000 inhabitants. However, months of bombardment reduced Avdiivka to rubble (see video above).

"The situation at the front is pretty clear. The Russians will advance as far as their forces allow, depending on how many survive," wrote Maksym Zhorin, deputy commander of the third Ukrainian assault brigade, on Telegram.

Russian soldiers(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Selenskyj: "We must act faster"
Following the capture of the small town in the east, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on his allies to help more quickly. "We have to act faster. That means we have to get rid of all the bureaucracy. Otherwise we have no chance," he said in an interview with US broadcaster Fox News.

Although US President Joe Biden has already announced a large aid package, it has so far failed due to disputes in the US Congress. An alternative is not easy, said Selenskyj. "Of course we will find one. We won't just sit there and wait. We have to survive. We have to find parallel solutions."