Enemy continues attempts to capture Avdiivka - Defense Forces

Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesperson for the Defense Forces of the Tavria sector, said this during the United News telethon on Ukrainian TV channels, Ukrinform reports.

"In the Avdiivka direction, the enemy’s activity has decreased somewhat, but it continues to move forward. The enemy is not relenting in attempts to capture Avdiivka. Our soldiers there are firmly holding the defense," he said.

Overall, according to Shtupun, the enemy launched one missile attack and four airstrikes in the Tavria sector in the past day.

The Russian forces used mostly guided aerial bombs, particularly in the Avdiivka sector.

In total, 53 combat clashes took place in the Tavria direction in the past day. The enemy launched 685 artillery strikes.

The Defense Forces destroyed 11 enemy tanks and 29 armored fighting vehicles, and about 80% of them in Donetsk region, Shtupun said.

He reported that enemy offensive actions in the districts of Novokalynove, Stepove, and Pervomaisk over the past day had no success. The enemy also conducted assaults outside Maryinka and Novomykhailivka, without success. The Defense Forces repelled about 20 enemy attacks there.

In the Shakhtarske and Zaporizhzhia sector, according to Shtupun, attacks were repelled in the areas of Zolota Nyva, Staromaiorske, Poltavka, and Robotyne. Near Robotyne, the enemy tried to recapture the lost position but had success.

The spokesperson also said that artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine performed 1,244 fire missions throughout the day. The enemy’s total losses last day reached 496 people. Two occupiers surrendered, and 50 units of military equipment were destroyed.