the Russian army launched its third wave of assaults on Avdiivka

The Russian army has launched its third wave of assaults since October 10 in Avdiïvka, in eastern Ukraine, the center of which it is systematically bombarding, declared its mayor, Vitalii Barabash, on Friday.

For more than a month, this almost surrounded industrial city, but still served by an asphalt road, has been facing incessant attacks from Moscow’s forces, who have been seeking to seize it for years.

“The third wave [d’assauts] began “announced Mr. Barabash on Ukrainian television, reporting attacks coming from “all sides” : on its southern and northern flanks, towards the industrial zone as well as Spartak, a village located between Avdiïvka and Donetsk, capital of the region of the same name, occupied by the Russians. The latter particularly want to seize a coking plant which they consider strategic, according to Ukraine.

Avdiïvka briefly fell in July 2014 into the hands of pro-Russian separatists, armed by Moscow, before returning to Ukrainian control. Since then, this largely destroyed town, which marks the front line in this area, has become the symbol of Ukrainian resistance.

The Ukrainian forces, entrenched behind solid fortifications, have had to give up some ground over the past month, but the defenses seem to be holding. “In the city, there are 30 to 40 massive strikes per day”continued Vitalii Barabash.

The Russian military, which he said uses guided bombs, has recently begun using cluster munitions, which randomly project smaller explosives over a wide area.

According to Mr. Barabash, 1,350 people still live in Avdiïvka, despite the fighting and bombings, while the town had around 30,000 inhabitants before the war.