Ukraine map shows Russian-claimed advances near Avdiivka

Russia is continuing to push the front lines in eastern Ukraine as Moscow sustains momentum following its capture of Avdiivka last month, according to maps compiled by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank.

After over four months of brutal fighting in the Donetsk region, Russia scored perhaps one of its only major battlefield wins in months, officially pushing Ukraine’s troops out of the town of Avdiivka on February 17. The Kremlin has continued its drive since, and fierce battles continue in several pockets along the front lines as Ukraine looks to reorganize its troops to launch another counteroffensive later this year.

According to the ISW, geolocated footage published earlier this week indicates Russia has made recent advances west of Avdiivka, including near Orlivka and Tonenke. A handful of Russian milbloggers claimed on Wednesday that Russia had seized control of most of Orlivka and a large part of Tonenke and Pervomaiske.

The ISW reported that one Russian source also claimed that Moscow’s troops have since “slowed down” west of Avdiivka, where they are facing retreated Ukrainian forces that have reconsolidated new defensive lines. The press service for the Ukrainian Tavriisk Group of Forces said on its Facebook page Wednesday that Ukraine had set up a second line of defense in the Avdiivka direction that is fortified with asphalt, trench walls, anti-tank trenches, concrete bunkers and other measures.

Geolocated footage also showed that Russia marginally advanced in Heorhiivka west of Donetsk on Wednesday. One Kremlin-affiliated milblogger said that Moscow gained territory in the southern outskirts of Krasnohorivka and north of Pobieda, in the west and southwest directions from the city of Donetsk. The ISW, however, did not observe visual evidence of such claims, and Ukrainian sources reported that fighting continued in several areas as of Wednesday.

Russian forces also reportedly advanced near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, according to the ISW, who cited reports from Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets. Mashovets said that Moscow advanced northwest of Bakhmut near Bohdanivka-Kalynivka and west of Bakhmut near Ivanivske-Stupochky. Russian milbloggers also claimed Russian advances west of the city, although ISW did not confirm the reports.

The ISW reported additional Russian advances in the Zaporizhzhia region on Tuesday and Wednesday using geolocated footage, reporting that Moscow gained territory east of Robotyne and northwest of Verbove. Recent Russian advances were also reported in the Luhansk region northeast of Kupyansk, and positional fighting continued along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna front line as of Wednesday.

Ukrainian Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, head of the country’s Ground Forces, said on national television Wednesday that fighting along the front lines remains difficult but that Ukraine is in control. Pavliuk specifically mentioned hot spots near Avdiivka, Chasiv Yar and Terny, where Moscow has reportedly focused its soldiers.

“There is very fierce fighting there every day, but our guys are holding on,” Pavliuk said. “They are holding on quite confidently—the enemy’s losses are huge. I think we will stabilize the situation soon and will do everything possible to prepare the troops to move towards more active operations and seize the initiative.”

Newsweek reached out to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry via email for comment late Wednesday night.