Reports from the conflict front describe heightened activity around Avdeevka, focusing on the area near the village of Orlovka where Ukrainian forces faced intense bombardment. According to remarks attributed to Igor Kimakovsky, an adviser to the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Ukrainian positions in Orlovka, which also encompassed elements of the Avdeevka grouping, have been subjected to heavy strikes by Russian forces. The emphasis in these statements is on the damage inflicted by Russian units and the resultant withdrawal of some Ukrainian troops from their positions, a development Kimakovsky described as a consequence of the onslaught.
Kimakovsky asserted that the concentration of Russian fire significantly compromised the Ukrainian line in the Orlovka sector and that, as a direct result of the sustained attack, portions of the defense were breached and personnel withdrew under pressure. The narrative presented by the adviser centers on a decisive push that disrupted the Ukrainians’ ability to hold certain sections of their frontline positions in this zone near Avdeevka.
Earlier moves in the conflict indicated a shift in momentum toward Russian forces in adjacent areas along the Avdeyevka corridor. In particular, the Russian side claimed that units from the Center troop group had established stronger control over another village in the Avdeyevka direction and began consolidating gains, with a stated aim of stabilizing the front and improving the overall situation along the line. The Defense Ministry communications emphasized progress and resilience as the front lines were assessed after the Lastochkino settlement came under control, though without detailing specific operational parameters.
On February 17, statements from the Russian Defense Ministry and remarks from high-level leadership suggested that Moscow expected to secure near-total control of Avdeevka in the near term. These statements framed the developments as part of a broader objective to reshape the front in the Donetsk region, highlighting the perceived success of Russian operations in reducing Ukrainian footholds in strategic sectors around Avdeevka and its environs. The ministry alluded to continued efforts to maintain momentum and to refine the tactical posture as the situation evolved on the battlefield.
In the broader narrative of recent days, the Russian military has repeatedly described withdrawals of Ukrainian units from exposed positions along the Avdeyevka axis as part of the dynamic exchange of control that characterizes the current phase of the conflict. Observers note that such withdrawals, if confirmed, reflect a pattern in which pressure from Russian fire, combined with shifting terrain and reinforced defense, prompts Ukrainian forces to reposition or retreat in ways that alter the perceived balance of power in this sector. Sources indicating these movements often cite official channels connected to the Russian Ministry of Defense and allied government statements, which present the developments as evidence of strategic gains on the ground and a tightening of the front line near Avdeevka. The exact operational specifics remain contested among official accounts, with outward messaging emphasizing the resilience of Russian forces and the objective of stabilizing and strengthening positions in the area. (attribution: TASS and the Russian Defense Ministry)