Russia unleashed `its entire arsenal` and destroyed a series of bases in Eastern Ukraine 0
(Dan Tri) – Russian forces have made significant advances in a narrow corridor in eastern Ukraine as Kiev awaits military aid from the West.
Russian military vehicles in Avdiivka (Photo: Reuters).
Video posted by Russian military bloggers showed the Russian flag flying above the village of Ocheretyne, which was devastated by the fighting.
Ukrainian troops withdrew from Avdiivka in February and are trying to establish a new defense line in settlements along the Durna River.
Moscow’s Ministry of Defense announced that Ukrainian troops withdrew from Ocheretyne in small groups and under fierce fire.
Controlling this area means Russia has overcome the northern flank of the new line recently built by Ukraine, which includes minefields and trenches.
The Regional Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine admitted that the situation was very difficult.
Location of Chasiv Yar city (Photo: Ukrainian Weekly).
Russian forces are about 30km from Pokrovsk, the main garrison city in the region and a place used to rotate troops and equipment.
Further north, a large-scale Russian offensive is underway to take control of the city of Chasiv Yar.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that Russian forces recently entered the administrative border area between the Donetsk – Zaporizhia provinces.
The US House of Representatives approved a nearly $61 billion aid package for Ukraine over the weekend.
Ukraine and allied countries hope that Washington’s relief package can help Kiev somewhat narrow the gap, especially when Moscow’s air strikes have caused some of the country’s air defense units to run out of missiles.
