Ukrainian Military Anticipates Russian Attack After Fighting Avdivka City Last Week

Ukrainian drone forces on the battlefield. (Wikimedia Commons/Obviously

JAKARTA - The Ukrainian military anticipates attacks by Russian troops that continue to advance, after successfully capturing Avdivka City in the eastern region last week, towards nearby cities and villages.

"It doesn't end with them taking Avdivka. They continue to attack (our position)," said Andriy, a Ukrainian drone pilot from the 47th Mechanical Brigade.

"After Avdivka, nearby villages are next. Then, Myrnograd and Pokrovsk, nearby big cities," he added, predicting villages and cities that are likely to be occupied by Russia next.

Russian troops managed to seize Avdivka City after months of bombings that left the city in ruins. It was Russia's biggest victory on the battlefield, since its forces seized Bakhmut in May 2023.

The progress Russia made after months of not experiencing much change on the front lines, shows a momentum change ahead of two years of Moscow's invasion. President Vladimir Putin said Russian troops would continue to advance to Ukraine.

Russian troops, said Andriy, had "a lot of workforce. There were a lot of shootings. And the (guided air bomb) KAB is still bombing us like it used to be. Maybe less, but still more."

Andriy and his compatriots, who identified themselves as Huk, did not have any illusions about what would happen.

"It looks like things are calmer, but they are constantly trying to take control of Lastochkyne. They are moving in that direction," said Huk, referring to a village in the northwest.

"I think they are now taking a break to gather their strength in order to continue attacking us," he added.

Andriy said no one was demollized by the decision to withdraw troops out of town, which had been home to 32,000 people. But a little relief will be received.

"What will happen next? I don't know. I'm just going through day after day, or at least I'm trying," said Andriy.

"We will continue to work. That's our job. And first of all, we are waiting to be replaced. We want at least some of our ranks rotated," he said.

Separately, Maksym Zhorin, Deputy Commander of Ukraine's Third Attack Brigade, wrote on Telegram on Wednesday: "The situation at Avdivka front is pretty clear. Russia will advance as far as their might allow, depending on which of them survive."