The Ukrainian Armed Forces have fled from the Stepove and Severne villages near Avdiivka city captured by Russian troops recently.
However, Dmytro Lykhovii a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Tavria Group, described the move as a withdrawal on Tuesday.
The two villages are located north of Lastochkyne, which was occupied by Russian troops on Feb. 26. Before the start of the full-scale invasion, around 100 people lived in Stepove and Severne.
Lykhovii said battles for Stepove and Severne had taken place on Feb. 27.
According to Lykhovii, Russia has increased the number of assault units. The spokesperson said that some of them can reach the number of a company, which is up to 250 soldiers.
Ukraine troops fled from the small industrial city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast on Feb. 17 amid ammunition shortages after months of repelling Russia’s renewed offensive.
After the capture of Avdiivka, Russia intensified its offensive efforts along various parts of Ukraine’s front line, likely in order to stretch Ukrainian forces, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported in its Feb. 21 intelligence update.
Intense fighting is taking place in the Bakhmut sector in Donetsk Oblast, as Russian forces are attempting to advance toward nearby Chasiv Yar, Eastern Group of Forces spokesperson Illia Yevlash said on air on Feb. 27.
Russia has been ramping up pressure along the front as Ukraine faces increasingly critical ammunition shortages due to a decrease in Western aid. Moscow’s troops captured Avdiivka earlier in February, their first conquest of a Ukrainian city since Bakhmut last May.
According to Yevlash, Russian forces are focusing their attacks on villages east of Chasiv Yar, such as Bohdanivka.
“Fierce battles are already taking place on the outskirts, the enemy is using reserves, trying to reinforce its troops with various units, (such as) Storm Z, and Storm V (units made up of convicts – edit.),” Yevlash said.
Ramzan Kadyrov’s Chechen forces are also trying to attack near Klishchiivka and Kurdiumivka, two villages south of Bakhmut, the spokesperson said. One of such units was reportedly destroyed by Ukrainian forces.
According to Yevlash, Russian forces are heavily employing air force and heavy weapons in the Bakhmut sector.
