Ukraine’s pro-Russian separatists claimed on Wednesday (June 1) they had scored a tactical gain by cutting off one of only two roads leading to the Ukrainian-held town of Avdiivka near the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.
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This announcement comes as Russia and its separatist auxiliaries are concentrating the bulk of their efforts in the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, the scene of fierce fighting, particularly in the city of Severodonetsk. The village of Novosselovka 2, located on the outskirts of Avdiïvka,was liberated from Ukrainian occupation“and the separatist forces”took control of a portionfrom the nearby highway, said on Telegram the “people’s militiaof the separatist authorities of the Donetsk region.
Therefore, the separatists have “finally cut off the Adviïka garrison from one of the two supply lines at its disposal” and have as their objective “the encirclement of the Ukrainian groupin this city, according to the same source. It was not immediately possible to independently verify these claims. The town of Avdiïvka, populated before the Russian offensive by around 30,000 inhabitants, is located in the suburbs of Donetsk, one of the twouppercase lettersof pro-Russian separatists, in an area where kyiv and Moscow have amassed large forces.
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When the conflict in Ukraine started in 2014, this city was conquered by the separatists, before being retaken by the forces of kyiv. Due to its proximity to the front line, it remained one of the hot spots until the Russian offensive began on February 24. In recent weeks, the Russian army has multiplied the bombardments on this locality in the hope of making it bend, while Moscow has set itself the objective of conquering all of Donbass, after having failed to take kyiv in the first phase of his offense. Taking Avdiivka would represent a symbolic victory for the Russians and would increase the danger hanging over the large city of Kramatorsk, located about 100 km to the north and controlled by Ukraine.
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