Russian troops capture main road into Avdiivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region

Russian troops have captured the main entrance to Avdiivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Russian war blogger Evgeny Poddubny published a video on Thursday showing a Russian flag planted on the northern outskirts of the city.

Judging by the video’s geolocation, there is a sign with the city’s name nearby. Ukrainian soldiers have taken photographs by the sign and, in late December 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recorded a video there.

The Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState reported that Russian troops have advanced both to the north and south of Avdiivka. On the DeepState map, the area shown in Poddubny’s video is marked as occupied by Russian forces.

The road now under Russian control is the main supply line for Ukrainian troops in Avdiivka.

Russian troops have been conducting an operation to surround Avdiivka, an important Ukrainian stronghold near the city of Donetsk, since October 2023.