ROMAN PILIPEY / AFP
Ukrainian soldiers in Robotyné in October 2023. The sector is in Russia's sights after the capture of Adviïvka.
INTERNATIONAL – The morale of Ukrainians is not high. The army is currently in a very complicated situation with Russian forces on the offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine after capturing the town of Avdiivka this weekend, Kiev admitted on Monday, February 19.
“The situation is extremely difficult at several points on the front line, where Russian troops have concentrated maximum reserves. They are taking advantage of the delay in Western aid to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily message.
He added that his country lacks artillery and urgently needs anti-aircraft defenses as well as longer-range weapons.
Russian attacks in the east and south
Russian soldiers, who just made their first major territorial gain since the capture of Bakhmut in May 2023 with the capture of Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region, went on the attack in the east and south, the Ukrainian army said.
In the southern part of the front, “the enemy made ten unsuccessful attempts against the positions of the (Ukrainian) Defense Forces in the area (of the village) Robotyne.” Here the situation is fluid, the enemy is firing heavily,” said Dmytro Lykhovy, spokesman for the Ukrainian military in this area.
AFP
Update on the fighting on February 19, 2024 in Ukraine
According to him, the Ukrainians have repelled attacks “with a significant number of armored vehicles,” but the Russians are now attacking with “small groups,” supported by armored vehicles and an “actively operating air force.”
The Russians in Robotyne
“These offensive attempts were stopped, the enemy was eliminated on the outskirts of Robotyne,” assured General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, the commander of Ukrainian troops in the region.
The Telegram channel DeepState, which is close to the Ukrainian army, reported on Sunday evening that the Russians had managed to break through the Ukrainian defenses a few kilometers east of Robotyne.
This village, which like many other towns has now been completely destroyed by artillery fire, was recaptured by the Russians in August, which was described by Ukraine as an important success of the counteroffensive launched in the summer.
Russian attacks on this part of the southern front began this weekend when the Russian army captured Avdiivka, about 150 km northeast of Robotyne, after four months of repeated attacks.
“Important victory” for Putin
In the Donetsk region, the Russian army has “improved” its positions, in particular “fully liberating” the Avdiivka coking plant, the last sector held by the Ukrainians before their withdrawal, Moscow officially announced on Monday.
In the Avdiivka area, “the Russians are regrouping, they have achieved their tactical objectives” and “they are likely to move units (from Avdiivka) to other sectors,” Ukrainian spokesman Dmytro Lykhovy emphasized.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of an “important victory” after taking Avdiivka, days before the second anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.
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