ISW: Russian troops advance near Avdiivka, AFU holds positions on the left bank of Kherson region

The Russian terrorist army continues to concentrate a huge number of forces in the Avdiivka sector. The enemy continued offensive operations in this area of the frontline and had successes on December 15.

In particular, Russian troops advanced in the area of Stepove (3 km north of Avdiivka) and Pervomaiske (11 km southwest of Avdiivka). This is stated in the analysis of the Institute for the Study of War.

The ISW noted that Putin's terrorists advanced near the railroad line north of Stepove and recently seized positions in the forest area north of Stepove, in the village itself and southwest of the village. In turn, Kremlin propagandists claim that Russian troops are also advancing on a "broad front" in the area of Novokalynove, Berdychiv, and have advanced to a depth of two kilometers north of Avdiivka.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that within 24 hours, Ukrainian troops repelled at least 45 attacks by the occupants east of Novobakhmutivka (13 km northwest of Avdiivka), Stepove and Avdiivka, as well as south of Severne (6 km west of Avdiivka), Pervomaiske and Nevelske (13 km southwest of Avdiivka). According to Brigadier-General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the Tavria group of troops, Russian occupation forces are advancing in assault groups of up to 20 people with the support of armored vehicles.

At the same time, ISW analysts report that Ukrainian defenders have retained their positions on the left bank of the Kherson region. Russian propagandists claim that the invaders allegedly conducted a series of attacks east of Krynky and forced Ukrainian troops to retreat deep into the village.

Analysts also noted that on December 15, Russian troops resumed air strikes in the Kherson region. The South Operational Command stated that the invaders had launched five air strikes using 25 guided bombs and an undetermined number of X-31P missiles in the Kherson region. Natalia Humeniuk, a representative of the South Command, explained that Russian troops resumed air strikes in the Kherson direction after bad weather conditions prevented them from active air operations in recent days.

As a reminder, the Russian occupation army sent 40,000 troops (in fact, an entire army), to storm the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. This settlement is not of particular strategic importance, but Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin made a big political bet on it as he hoped to have a reason to boast of military successes at the same time as announcing his participation in the next "elections" in Russia.

Earlier, it was reported that Russian troops launched offensive operations in the east in the fall of 2023 in difficult weather conditions. It led to heavy losses in the occupier's army in the absence of significant operational successes on the battlefield.

As OBOZ.UA reported, a division of Russian paratroopers suffered extremely heavy losses on the left bank of the Kherson region near the village of Krynky. The occupiers tried to drive out Ukrainian troops but a significant part of them was eliminated by our defenders.

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