Ukraine says weather hampering Russian advance on eastern front

Ukrainian officers say bad weather is hampering Russia's offensive on Avdeevka, a key city on the eastern front.

"They started shelling the center of Avdeevka from the direction of Donetsk city. Our brigade is still holding the town, but we don't see any combat vehicles moving forward," Serhiy Tsekhotskyi, a Ukrainian officer in Avdeevka city, said on November 28.

Storms and heavy snowfall have swept across southern Ukraine over the past two days, followed by heavy rain in the east, leaving the ground muddy and unsuitable for military operations.

"The weather is not favorable. However, when it gets colder and the ground hardens, they can bring in mechanized vehicles to attack," Mr. Tsekhotskyi commented.

Volodymyr Fitio, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army, said the harsh weather in recent days had forced Russian forces to adjust their offensive tactics. "It is impossible to advance in these conditions," Fitio said. "Russia used to send a lot of reserve units into battles. These operations are much less now."

Russian forces began an offensive on the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdeevka in mid-October, aiming to turn the tide on the battlefield. Representatives of the Ukrainian combat group in Avdeevka have repeatedly admitted that Russia is trying to encircle the city and that it could become a “second Bakhmut”.

Russian BM-21 Grad rocket launchers attack Ukrainian positions on November 7. Photo: RIA Novosti — Russian BM-21 Grad rocket launchers attack Ukrainian positions on November 7. Photo: *RIA Novosti*

Fighting on the Avdeevka front over the past week has largely taken place in an industrial zone outside the city and around a nearby coke plant.

Russian sources said their forces had made some advances in the area north of Avdeevka and heavy fighting was taking place in the area around the coke plant.

Avdeevka had a population of about 32,000 before the war, but now fewer than 1,500 people remain in the city. Since 2014, the Ukrainian army has built many bunkers and fortifications, turning the city into a fortress to kill the capital of Donetsk province of the same name.

Andriy Kramarov, a Ukrainian military expert, said Russia's shorter supply lines and faster deployment made the Avdeevka offensive different from the months-long effort to capture the city of Bakhmut.

"Russia is mobilizing manpower and military equipment much faster than in Bakhmut," Mr. Kramarov said. "Small assault groups are advancing one after another. After the Ukrainian forces neutralize a group of 50-100 soldiers, the next group will arrive in five minutes."

Avdeevka is considered by Ukraine to be the gateway for any future eastward offensive, as the city is only about 20 km from the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk. However, some Ukrainian analysts believe that the battle for Avdeevka is only of political significance and does not bring much benefit to Russia.

Ukraine deployed the 47th Independent Mechanized Brigade, the unit known as the "iron fist" of the country's army, to reinforce Avdeevka in mid-October. Ukrainian units can now only approach the city from the west.