Russia opens new attack direction in Avdiivka, Ukraine declares change of tactics

Omega special forces unit of the Ukrainian National Guard fires mortars towards Russian troops in the frontline town of Avdiivka on November 8 (Photo: RFE).

"The current third wave of the enemy's attack is different from the previous two in that they have opened two new directions," Vitaliy Barabash, head of the town's military administration, said on December 4.

"The opening of new attack directions proves that the enemy has been ordered to take the city at any cost," he told Ukrainian media.

Mr. Barabash also said that the new attacks by Russian forces were aimed at distracting Ukrainian defenses and closing the gap in the west of the town, thereby completely encircling it.

For nearly two months, Moscow has been trying to capture Avdiivka, an industrial town in the eastern Donetsk region.

Independent military analysts say Russian forces are making gains around Avdiivka but at a high cost.

Mr. Barabash said there are about 1,300 civilians left in the town, compared to a population of about 30,000 before the outbreak of hostilities.

Avdiivka is located in Donetsk province, which has been partly controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists since 2014 and is one of four Ukrainian provinces that Moscow annexed last year.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the President of Ukraine, said on December 4 that the country is changing tactics, switching to defense in some areas and continuing to attack in others.

Mr. Podolyak affirmed that Kiev is focusing on increasing domestic arms production and accelerating negotiations with partners to increase military supplies.

On the same day, December 4, Ukraine announced that it had used drones to destroy a large oil depot on Russian-controlled territory in the eastern Lugansk region of Ukraine.

"It exploded loudly and caught fire fiercely," the head of the Ukrainian region, Artem Lysogor, said in a post accompanying a video showing huge flames and billowing smoke.

Russian media also reported on the Ukrainian attack on the oil depot in Lugansk and said the fire had been extinguished.

Both sides claim to have shot down dozens of enemy drones.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had destroyed 30 Ukrainian drones, while Kiev said it had shot down 18 of the 23 Russia fired overnight, along with one guided missile.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-mo-huong-tan-cong-moi-o-avdiivka-ukraine-tuyen-bo-doi-chien-thuat-20231204212928045.htm