"Escalating Conflict: Russia's Multi-Pronged Assault on Avdiivka"

The mayor of Avdiivka in east Ukraine reported that large numbers of Russian troops are attacking the town from all directions, making the situation increasingly difficult for Ukrainian troops defending the area. With the town's population reduced to 941 from 32,000 due to heavy damage sustained since 2014, the fall of Avdiivka would be seen as a significant victory for Russia ahead of President Vladimir Putin's expected re-election. Despite the intense fighting, Ukrainian forces are holding back the Russian troops and inflicting significant losses on the invaders.